Difference between revisions of "Asking about degree with "duo""

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* 你 的 小孩 <em>多</em> 大? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de xiǎohái <em>duō</em> dà? </span><span class="trans">How old is your child? </span>
 
* 你 的 小孩 <em>多</em> 大? <span class="pinyin">Nǐ de xiǎohái <em>duō</em> dà? </span><span class="trans">How old is your child? </span>
 
* 黄河 <em>多</em> 长?<span class="pinyin">Huánghé <em>duō</em> cháng? </span><span class="trans">How long is the Yellow River? </span>
 
* 黄河 <em>多</em> 长?<span class="pinyin">Huánghé <em>duō</em> cháng? </span><span class="trans">How long is the Yellow River? </span>
* 你家 离 这儿 <em>多</em> 远?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā lí zhèr <em>duō</em> yuǎn? </span><span class="trans">How far is your house away from here? </span>
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* 你 家 离 这儿 <em>多</em> 远?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā lí zhèr <em>duō</em> yuǎn? </span><span class="trans">How far is your house away from here? </span>
 
* 你 要 在 美国 待 <em>多</em> 久?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào zài Měiguó dāi <em>duō</em> jiǔ? </span><span class="trans">How long are you going to stay in America? </span>
 
* 你 要 在 美国 待 <em>多</em> 久?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào zài Měiguó dāi <em>duō</em> jiǔ? </span><span class="trans">How long are you going to stay in America? </span>
 
* 这 些 东西 <em>多</em> 重?<span class="pinyin">Zhè xiē dōngxi <em>duō</em> zhòng? </span><span class="trans">How heavy are these things? </span>
 
* 这 些 东西 <em>多</em> 重?<span class="pinyin">Zhè xiē dōngxi <em>duō</em> zhòng? </span><span class="trans">How heavy are these things? </span>

Revision as of 05:30, 19 March 2016

How big? How busy? How cold? Ask questions like these regarding the degree of an adjective with 多 (duō). This is just one of the many uses of this word.

Structure

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

Subj. + 多 + Adj. ?

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

Examples

  • 高?duō gāo? How tall is she?
  • 你家 大?Nǐ jiā duō dà? How large is your house?
  • 你 的 小孩 大? Nǐ de xiǎohái duō dà? How old is your child?
  • 黄河 长?Huánghé duō cháng? How long is the Yellow River?
  • 你 家 离 这儿 远?Nǐ jiā lí zhèr duō yuǎn? How far is your house away from here?
  • 你 要 在 美国 待 久?Nǐ yào zài Měiguó dāi duō jiǔ? How long are you going to stay in America?
  • 这 些 东西 重?Zhè xiē dōngxi duō zhòng? How heavy are these things?
  • 你 知道 她 现在 胖 吗?Nǐ zhīdao tā xiànzài duō pàng ma?Do you know how fat she is now?
  • 你 知道 这里 的 冬天 冷 吗?Nǐ zhīdao zhèlǐ de dōngtiān duō lěng ma? Do you know how cold it is here in winter?
  • 你 知道 上海 的 房子 贵 吗?Nǐ zhīdao Shànghǎi de fángzi duō guì ma? Do you know how expensive housing is in Shanghai?

"大 (dà)" and "小 (xiǎo)" can also be used to describe ages. "你多大? (nǐ duōdà)" 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? (nǐ jǐ suì)" is used among peers.

See also

Sources and further reading