少すくなからず

す

く

な

か

ら

ず

Common wordJLPTN1

Meanings

adverb

considerably; not a little; in no small numbers

Used to emphasize that something is more than expected or significant in degree, amount, or number. Often appears in formal or written contexts.

彼かれの意い見けんには少すくなからず驚おどろかされた。
I was considerably surprised by his opinion.
この問もん題だいは少すくなからず影えい響きょうを及およぼすだろう。
This problem will have a not insignificant impact.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉に少すくなからず影えい響きょうを与あたえるto have a considerable influence on something
彼かれの発はつ言げんは会かい議ぎの結けっ果かに少すくなからず影えい響きょうを与あたえた。
His remarks had a considerable influence on the outcome of the meeting.
少すくなからず驚おどろくto be quite surprised
そのニュースを聞きいて少すくなからず驚おどろいた。
I was quite surprised to hear that news.
少すくなからず〈人ひと〉がいるthere are not a few (people) who...
このアイデアに反はん対たいする人ひとも少すくなからずいる。
There are quite a few people who oppose this idea.

Kanji

少few, little
尠at least, not a little

Related words

かなりN4
かなり is a casual, everyday word for 'quite/considerably', while 少なからず is a formal, written-style expression that stresses an unexpectedly large degree or number.
相そう当とうN3
相当 also means 'considerably' in formal contexts, but it lacks the nuance of surprise or significance that 少なからず carries.
大おおいにN3
大いに means 'greatly' and often modifies verbs of action or emotion, whereas 少なからず more specifically emphasizes an amount that is 'not small'.
多た分ぶんに
多分に is a formal adverb meaning 'to a large extent', close in register to 少なからず but slightly more neutral in nuance.

Written forms

少すくなからず
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency and priority-tagged.
尠すくなからず
Rare variant kanji form; no priority markers are specified.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective 少ない (sukunai, 'few, little') with the negative adverbial suffix ず (zu), literally meaning 'not a little'. The kanji 少 is used for its meaning of 'few', while the rare variant 尠 is an alternative character with the same meaning.