Difference between revisions of "Using "ji" to mean "several""
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One of the definitions of the common character 几 (jǐ) is "several," "a couple" or "a few." It's an uncertain number that is at least more than one, but less than ten. | One of the definitions of the common character 几 (jǐ) is "several," "a couple" or "a few." It's an uncertain number that is at least more than one, but less than ten. | ||
| − | == 几 (jǐ) | + | == 几 (jǐ) as "a Few" == |
The simplest way to use 几 (jǐ) is to use it directly with a measure word. It means "a few," less than ten or so, things. | The simplest way to use 几 (jǐ) is to use it directly with a measure word. It means "a few," less than ten or so, things. | ||
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| − | == 几 (jǐ) | + | == 几 (jǐ) as "a Few Tens" == |
It is similar to how in English we can say, "a few dozen" or "a couple dozen," though in this case instead of "twelves of something" we are saying "tens of something." | It is similar to how in English we can say, "a few dozen" or "a couple dozen," though in this case instead of "twelves of something" we are saying "tens of something." | ||
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| − | == 几 (jǐ) | + | == 几 (jǐ) as "a Few Hundred / Thousand / Ten Thousand" == |
In Chinese we can put 几 (jǐ) together with 百 (bǎi), 千 (qiān), or 万 (wàn), just like how in English we might say, "a few hundred" or a "few thousand." | In Chinese we can put 几 (jǐ) together with 百 (bǎi), 千 (qiān), or 万 (wàn), just like how in English we might say, "a few hundred" or a "few thousand." | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
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*[[Indicating a number in excess]] | *[[Indicating a number in excess]] | ||
Revision as of 09:14, 22 January 2017
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One of the definitions of the common character 几 (jǐ) is "several," "a couple" or "a few." It's an uncertain number that is at least more than one, but less than ten.
Contents
几 (jǐ) as "a Few"
The simplest way to use 几 (jǐ) is to use it directly with a measure word. It means "a few," less than ten or so, things.
Structure
几 + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
- 桌子 上 有 几 本 书。There are a few books on the table.
- 只有 几 个 人 去 过 那 个 地方。Only a few people have been to that place.
- 从 上海 到 东京 坐 飞机 只 要 几 个 小时。Flying from Shanghai to Tokyo only takes a few hours.
- 我 每 天 都 要 喝 几 杯 咖啡。Every day I have to drink a couple cups of coffee.
- 老板 今天 开 了 几 个 重要 的 会。The boss had a few important meetings today.
几 (jǐ) as "a Few Tens"
It is similar to how in English we can say, "a few dozen" or "a couple dozen," though in this case instead of "twelves of something" we are saying "tens of something."
Structure
几 + 十 + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
- 他 只 想 学 几 十 个 汉字。"Dozens" is the closest we can get in natural English to the Chinese, which literally means "tens."He only wants to study a few dozen Chinese characters.
- 我们 公司 有 几 十 个 员工。Our company has a few dozen employees.
- 他 写 过 几 十 本 书，我 都 喜欢。He wrote a few dozen books. I like them all.
- 这个 年轻的 演员 演 了 几 十 部 电影。我都喜欢。This young actor has acted in dozens of movies. I like them all.
- 老板 在 国外 有 几 十 套 房子。The boss has a few dozen houses abroad.
几 (jǐ) as "a Few Hundred / Thousand / Ten Thousand"
In Chinese we can put 几 (jǐ) together with 百 (bǎi), 千 (qiān), or 万 (wàn), just like how in English we might say, "a few hundred" or a "few thousand."
Structure
几 + 百 / 千 / 万 + Measure Word + Noun
Examples
- 妈妈 每 个 月 都 给 我 几 百 块 钱。Mom gives me a couple hundred dollars every month.
- 这 个 月 我们 卖 了 几 千 本 书。We sold a couple thousand books this month.
- 几 百 家 外国 公司 参加 了 这个 大会。Several hundred foreign companies attended this conference.
- 这 篇 文章 有 几 万 个 字，太 长 了。This article has tens of thousands of characters. It's too long.
- 我 认识 一 个 朋友，她 有 几 百 双 高跟鞋。I have a friend that has a couple hundred high-heeled shoes.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 641) →buy
