‘几’ and ‘多’: Expression of Approximate Numbers
In Chinese, 几 (jǐ) and 多 (duō) are often used to express approximate numbers. These words help to indicate an approximate quantity of something.
Usage of ‘几’
‘几’ is used to indicate a small quantity, usually from 2 to 9. Examples:
- 几个人 (jǐ gè rén) - a few people
- 几本书 (jǐ běn shū) - a few books
- 几天 (jǐ tiān) - a few days
Usage of ‘多’
‘多’ is used to indicate a large quantity or an approximate number over 10. Examples:
- 二十多个人 (èr shí duō gè rén) - more than twenty people
- 五十多本书 (wǔ shí duō běn shū) - more than fifty books
- 十多天 (shí duō tiān) - more than ten days
Structure
| Structure | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 几 + Noun | 几个人 (jǐ gè rén) | A few people |
| Number + 多 + Noun | 五十多本书 (wǔ shí duō běn shū) | More than fifty books |