劣势
liè shì · HSK 7
disadvantaged
📉 劣 = 少 few + 力 strength = lacking strength (inferior); 势 = power/position
劣 stacks 少 (few) over 力 (strength), so it reads as too little force = inferior. 势 means power or momentum. Put together, 劣势 is the weak, losing side of a situation: a disadvantage.