少すくなげ

expression

scarcity; lack; dearth

Literary or somewhat old-fashioned expression meaning that something is scarce or insufficient. Often used in the pattern 〜が少なげだ or 〜の少なげ. Not common in everyday speech; modern Japanese more often uses 不足 or 少ない.

• この村むらは水みずが少すくなげだ。

  This village has a scarcity of water.

• 食しょく料りょうの少すくなげに悩なやむ。

  Suffer from a lack of food.