Approximating with sequential numbers
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Expressing approximate numbers in Chinese is quite simple, and this article introduces one of the most basic ways to do so.
Structure
An easy way to express approximate numbers is to use two sequential numbers in a row.
Number + (Number+1)
This is similar to saying "x to y," "x or y," or "about x" in English.
Examples
- 一 两 天 One or two days.
- 三 四 个 人 Three or four people
- 老板 昨天 喝 了七 八 瓶 啤酒 。 The boss drunk 7 or 8 bottles of beer yeterday.
- 这 个 词 我们 学 过两 三 次 了 。 We've studied this word two or three times now.
- 我 等 了 你三 四 个 小时。 I waited for you for three or four hours.
- 他们 七 八 年 没 见面 了 。 They haven't seen each other for seven or eight years.
- 要 做 完 这 个 工作 需要一 两 个 月 。 To complete this work, you need one to two months.
- 他们 家 的 孩子五 六 岁 了 吧 。 Their child is about five or six years old.
- 这 件 衣服 只 要七 八 十 块 钱 。 This piece of clothing only needs (costs) seventy to eighty kuai.
- 这 几 本 书 花 了 我两 三 百。 These few books cost me two or three hundred kuai.
