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

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"How big? How busy? How cold?" In this article, we review how to ask questions like these regarding the degree of an adjective with 多 (duō). This is just one of the many uses of this character.  
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''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 ===
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== Structure ==
  
多 (duō) is often used to ask about the extent of something.  
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多 (duō) is often used to ask about the degree or extent of something.  
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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This is an easy way to ask "How [adjective] is [subject]?"
 
This is an easy way to ask "How [adjective] is [subject]?"
  
=== Examples ===
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== Examples ==
  
 
<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 她 <em>多</em> 高?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>duō</em> gāo?</span><span class="trans">How tall is she?</span>
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*她 <em>多</em> 高?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>duō</em> gāo?</span><span class="trans">How tall is she?</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>
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*你家 <em>多</em> 大?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā <em>duō</em> dà?</span><span class="trans">How large is your house?</span>
* 他 <em>多</em> 重?<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>duō</em> zhòng?</span><span class="trans">How heavy is he?</span>
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*你 的 孩子 <em>多</em> 大?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de háizi <em>duō</em> dà?</span><span class="trans">How old is your child?</span>
* 你们 公司 <em>多</em> 大?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen gōngsī <em>duō</em> dà?</span><span class="trans">How big is your company?</span>
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*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>
* <em>多</em> 冷?<span class="pinyin">Wàimiàn <em>duō</em> lěng?</span><span class="trans">How cold is it outside?</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>
* 你家 离 这儿 <em>多</em> 远?<span class="pinyin"><em>duō</em> piàoliang?</span><span class="trans">How beautiful is she?</span>
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*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 the USA?</span>
* 川菜 <em>多</em> 辣?<span class="pinyin">Chuāncài <em>duō</em> ?</span><span class="trans">How spicy is Sichuan food?</span>
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*这些 东西 <em>多</em> 重?<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē dōngxi <em>duō</em> zhòng?</span><span class="trans">How heavy are these things?</span>
* 外面 <em>多</em> 热?<span class="pinyin">Wàimiàn <em>duō</em> ?</span><span class="trans">How hot is it outside?</span>
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*你 知道 我们 现在 <em>多</em> 胖 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào wǒmen xiànzài <em>duō</em> pàng ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you know how fat we are now?</span>
* 这 个 人 <em>多</em> 好?<span class="pinyin">Zhè ge rén <em>duō</em> hǎo?</span><span class="trans">How good is this person?</span>
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*你 知道 这里 的 冬天 <em>多</em> 冷 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào zhèlǐ de dōngtiān <em>duō</em> lěng ma? </span><span class="trans">Do you know how cold it is here in winter? </span>
* 你们 老板 <em>多</em> 大方?<span class="pinyin">Nǐmen lǎobǎn <em>duō</em> dàfāng?</span><span class="trans">How generous is your boss?</span>
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*你 知道 上海 的 房子 <em>多</em> 贵 吗?<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào Shànghǎi de fángzi <em>duō</em> guì ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you know how expensive housing is in Shanghai? </span>
* 她 爸 <em>多</em> 有钱?<span class="pinyin">Tā bà <em>duō</em> yǒu qián?</span><span class="trans">How rich is her father?</span>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
"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? (jǐ suì)" is used among peers.
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大 (dà) and 小 (xiǎo) can also be used to describe ages. The question phrase 多大 (duō dà) is often used to ask "how old." However, it is an informal way to ask, usually reserved for peers, close friends, or children. The phrase 几岁 (jǐ suì) is most often used for children young enough to display their ages on one hand. Adults do not normally directly ask each other's ages in a formal setting.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
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*[[Doing something more with "duo"]]
 
*[[Doing something more with "duo"]]
 
*[[Intensifying with "duo"]]
 
*[[Intensifying with "duo"]]
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== Sources and further reading ==
 
== Sources and further reading ==
  
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 135-7) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|33}}
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 233) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 2|12}}
* [[Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide]] (pp. 207-210, 301) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0415700108 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|135-7}}
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|233}}
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{{Source|Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide|207-210, 301}}
  
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A2 grammar points]]
{{Basic Grammar|多|A2|Subject + 多 + Adjective ?|他 <em>多</em> 高?|grammar point|ASG9LLJU}}
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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{{HSK|HSK2}}{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
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{{Basic Grammar|多|A2|Subj. + 多 + Adj. ?|他 <em>多</em> 高?|grammar point|ASG9LLJU}}
 
{{Similar|Doing something more with "duo"}}  
 
{{Similar|Doing something more with "duo"}}  
 
{{Similar|Intensifying with "duo"}}
 
{{Similar|Intensifying with "duo"}}

Latest revision as of 08:57, 21 April 2021

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 孩子 大?Nǐ de háizi 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 the USA?
  • 这些 东西 重?Zhèxiē dōngxi duō zhòng?How heavy are these things?
  • 你 知道 我们 现在 胖 吗?Nǐ zhīdào wǒmen xiànzài duō pàng ma?Do you know how fat we are now?
  • 你 知道 这里 的 冬天 冷 吗?Nǐ zhīdào 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 zhīdào 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. The question phrase 多大 (duō dà) is often used to ask "how old." However, it is an informal way to ask, usually reserved for peers, close friends, or children. The phrase 几岁 (jǐ suì) is most often used for children young enough to display their ages on one hand. Adults do not normally directly ask each other's ages in a formal setting.

See also

Sources and further reading