Indicating a number in excess

A number in excess of a certain amount is expressed by adding "多" (duō) to the end of a number. This is usually translated as "more than..." in English.

Structure

Number + 多 + Measure word + (Noun)

Examples

• 他 妈妈 已经 五十 多 岁 了。Tā māma yǐjīng wǔshí duō suì le.His mother is already more than fifty years old.
• 这个 包 花 了 我 三 万 多 块钱 。Zhège bāo huā le wǒ sān qiān duō kuài qián.This bag cost me more than thirty thousand kuai.
• 这 本 书 有 一 千 多 页 。Zhè běn shū yǒu yī qiān duō yè.This book has more than ten thousand pages.
• 中国 有 五 千 多 年 的 历史 。 Zhōngguó yǒu wǔ qiān duō nián de lìshǐ.China has more than five thousand years of history.

In the above examples, 年 does not take a measure word.

When the number is smaller than eleven, the 多 can be put after the measure word. However, if the number is bigger than eleven, the 多 has to be put before the measure word:

• 五岁多
• 五十岁多
• 五十多 岁
• 九十块钱多
• 九十多 块 钱

See also

• Intensifying with "duo"
• Doing something more with "duo"
• Asking about degree with "duo"
• Measure Words for Verbs
• Using "ji" to mean "several"

Books

• New Practical Chinese Reader 3 (新实用汉语课本3) (pp. 81) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 2 (3rd ed) (pp. 205-7) →buy
• 40 Lessons for Basic Chinese Course (基础汉语40课上册） (p. 86)→buy