Asking about degree with "duo"

How to ask about degree with 多(duō).

Structure

多 (duō) is often used to ask about the extent of something.

Subject + 多 + Adjective

This is an easy way to ask "How [adjective] is [subject]?"

Examples

• 她 多 高？How tall is she?
• 你 多 忙？ How busy are you?
• 他 多 重？How heavy is he?
• 外面 多 冷？How cold is outside.

"大" and "小" are used to describe ages. "你多大" is often used to ask "how old are you", however it is an informal way to ask, usually for close friends or children. Usually, "你几岁“ is used among peers.

“你多大？”也可以用这个结构理解。在中国，年龄经常用“大”和“小”形容，所以“你多大”的意思一般说来是“How old are you?”的意思。

See also

• Doing something more with "duo"
• Intensifying with "duo"

Sources and further reading

Books

• Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 135-7) →buy
• Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 233) →buy