Difference between revisions of "Comparing "henduo" and "xuduo""

 
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很多 and 许多 both are number words that mean a lot, many, or much and often can be used interchangeably. Both are used in informal and formal situations. The key to understanding 很多 and 许多 is that when they are used as an object after a verb, or when attributed to something that you have a lot of, for example friends, things, etc., they can be used interchangeably. A difference is that only 很多 can be the predicate of a sentence.
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很多 (hěn duō) and 许多 (xǔduō) both mean "a lot," "many," or "much," and often can be used interchangeably. Both are used in informal and formal situations. The key to understanding 很多 and 许多 is that only when they are used as an object after a verb or when coming before a noun can they be used interchangeably. Only 很多 can be the predicate of a sentence or a complement.
  
{{VocabularyListCol1|很多|hěnduō|a lot, many, much|number word|flexible}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol1|很多|hěn duō|a lot, many, much|number word|flexible}}
{{VocabularyListCol2|许多|xǔduō|a lot, many, much|number word|flexible}}
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{{SimilarWordsCol2|许多|xǔduō|a lot, many, much|number word|flexible}}
{{VocabularyListPageInfo|A2|HSK2|ASV4567}}
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{{SimilarWordsPageInfo|B1|HSK4|ASV4567}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
 
{{2021-HSK|HSK2}}
  
注:汉语近义词学习手册的解释很不错,涉及到很多语法方面的内容。
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== Both 很多 and 许多 can modify nouns ==
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很多 is more common, and is really just the adverb 很 plus the adjective 多. 许多 is one word, and as such is less flexible in usage. 许多 is also more formal.
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<div class="liju">
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* 我 认识 <em>很 多</em> 汉字 。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ rènshi <em> hěn duō </em> hànzì.</span><span class="trans">I know a lot of Chinese characters.</span>
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* 学 好 汉语 需要 <em>很 多</em> 时间 。 <span class="pinyin">Xué hǎo Hànyǔ xūyào <em> hěn duō </em> shíjiān.</span><span class="trans">It takes a lot of time to learn Chinese well.</span>
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* 早上 , 公园 里 有 <em>很 多</em> 人 遛狗 。 <span class="pinyin">Zǎoshang, gōngyuán lǐ yǒu <em> hěn duō </em> rén liù gǒu.</span><span class="trans">In the morning, there are many people walking their dogs in the park.</span>
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* 这 份 工作 让 我 积累 了 <em>许多</em> 经验 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè fèn gōngzuò ràng wǒ jīlěi le <em> xǔduō </em> jīngyàn.</span><span class="trans">This job has given me a lot of experience.</span>
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* 我 在 北京 有 <em>许多</em> 老朋友  。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ zài Běijīng yǒu <em> xǔduō </em> lǎopéngyou.</span><span class="trans">I have many old friends in Beijing.</span>
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* 最近 有 <em>很 多</em> 问题 , 工作 的 问题 和 私人 的 问题 。 <span class="pinyin">Zuìjìn yǒu <em> hěn duō </em> wèntí, gōngzuò de wèntí hé sīrén de wèntí.</span><span class="trans">Lately there have been a lot of problems, both work and personal.</span>
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* 这些 纪念品 引起 了 <em>许多</em> 美好 的 回忆 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē jìniànpǐn yǐnqǐ le <em> xǔduō </em> měihǎo de huíyì.</span><span class="trans">These souvenirs bring back a lot of wonderful memories.</span>
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* 这 家 工厂 生产 了 <em>许多</em> 产品 , 但是 没有 卖 出去 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhè jiā gōngchǎng shēngchǎn le <em> xǔduō </em> chǎnpǐn, dànshì méiyǒu mài chūqù.</span><span class="trans">This factory produced a lot of products, but wasn't able to sell them.</span>
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</div>
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== Only 很多 can be the predicate ==
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When 很多 is the [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Predicate predicate], it usually looks something like this:
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<div class="jiegou">
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Noun Phrase + 很多
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</div>
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The predicate could end the sentence, or might just complete the first clause of a complex sentence.
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<div class="liju">
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* 春节 的 时候,来 家里 的 客人 <em>很 多</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Chūnjié de shíhou, lái jiālǐ de kèrén <em> hěn duō </em>.</span><span class="trans">During the Spring Festival, many people came to the house.</span>
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* 现在 儿童 的 书 <em>很 多</em>,但是 有趣 的 书 不 多。 <span class="pinyin">Xiànzài értóng de shū <em> hěn duō </em>, dànshì yǒuqù de shū bù duō.</span><span class="trans">There are a lot of books for children, but not many interesting books.</span>
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* 参加 面试 的 人 <em>很 多</em> , 所以 今天 公司 很 热闹 。 <span class="pinyin">Cānjiā miànshì de rén <em> hěn duō </em>, suǒyǐ jīntiān gōngsī hěn rènao.</span><span class="trans">There are a lot of people attending interviews, so the office is very busy today.</span>
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<span class="trans"></span>
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</div>
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== Only 很多 can be a complement ==
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When 很多 is a [https://resources.allsetlearning.com/chinese/grammar/Complement complement], it usually looks something like this:
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<div class="jiegou">
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Verb + 得 / 了 + 很多
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</div>
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<div class="liju">
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* 最近 她 在 减肥,所以 瘦 了 <em>很 多</em>。 <span class="pinyin">Zuìjìn tā zài jiǎnféi, suǒyǐ shòu le <em> hěn duō </em>.</span><span class="trans">Recently, she has lost a lot of weight because she is losing weight.</span>
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* 她 最近 吃 得 <em>很 多</em> , 可能 是 怀孕 了 。 <span class="pinyin">Tā zuìjìn chī de <em> hěn duō </em>, kěnéng shì huáiyùn le.</span><span class="trans">She has been eating a lot lately, probably because she is pregnant.</span>
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</div>
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=== Websites ===
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* [https://wukong.toutiao.com/question/6725400031718818051/ “很多”和“许多”]

Latest revision as of 03:49, 6 May 2022

很多 (hěn duō) and 许多 (xǔduō) both mean "a lot," "many," or "much," and often can be used interchangeably. Both are used in informal and formal situations. The key to understanding 很多 and 许多 is that only when they are used as an object after a verb or when coming before a noun can they be used interchangeably. Only 很多 can be the predicate of a sentence or a complement.











B1HSK4ASV4567
很多 (hěn duō) 许多 (xǔduō)
Meaning a lot, many, much a lot, many, much
Part of Speech number word number word
Formality flexible flexible

Both 很多 and 许多 can modify nouns

很多 is more common, and is really just the adverb 很 plus the adjective 多. 许多 is one word, and as such is less flexible in usage. 许多 is also more formal.

  • 我 认识 很 多 汉字 。 Wǒ rènshi hěn duō hànzì.I know a lot of Chinese characters.
  • 学 好 汉语 需要 很 多 时间 。 Xué hǎo Hànyǔ xūyào hěn duō shíjiān.It takes a lot of time to learn Chinese well.
  • 早上 , 公园 里 有 很 多 人 遛狗 。 Zǎoshang, gōngyuán lǐ yǒu hěn duō rén liù gǒu.In the morning, there are many people walking their dogs in the park.
  • 这 份 工作 让 我 积累 了 许多 经验 。 Zhè fèn gōngzuò ràng wǒ jīlěi le xǔduō jīngyàn.This job has given me a lot of experience.
  • 我 在 北京 有 许多 老朋友 。 Wǒ zài Běijīng yǒu xǔduō lǎopéngyou.I have many old friends in Beijing.
  • 最近 有 很 多 问题 , 工作 的 问题 和 私人 的 问题 。 Zuìjìn yǒu hěn duō wèntí, gōngzuò de wèntí hé sīrén de wèntí.Lately there have been a lot of problems, both work and personal.
  • 这些 纪念品 引起 了 许多 美好 的 回忆 。 Zhèxiē jìniànpǐn yǐnqǐ le xǔduō měihǎo de huíyì.These souvenirs bring back a lot of wonderful memories.
  • 这 家 工厂 生产 了 许多 产品 , 但是 没有 卖 出去 。 Zhè jiā gōngchǎng shēngchǎn le xǔduō chǎnpǐn, dànshì méiyǒu mài chūqù.This factory produced a lot of products, but wasn't able to sell them.

Only 很多 can be the predicate

When 很多 is the predicate, it usually looks something like this:

Noun Phrase + 很多

The predicate could end the sentence, or might just complete the first clause of a complex sentence.

  • 春节 的 时候,来 家里 的 客人 很 多Chūnjié de shíhou, lái jiālǐ de kèrén hěn duō .During the Spring Festival, many people came to the house.
  • 现在 儿童 的 书 很 多,但是 有趣 的 书 不 多。 Xiànzài értóng de shū hěn duō , dànshì yǒuqù de shū bù duō.There are a lot of books for children, but not many interesting books.
  • 参加 面试 的 人 很 多 , 所以 今天 公司 很 热闹 。 Cānjiā miànshì de rén hěn duō , suǒyǐ jīntiān gōngsī hěn rènao.There are a lot of people attending interviews, so the office is very busy today.

Only 很多 can be a complement

When 很多 is a complement, it usually looks something like this:

Verb + 得 / 了 + 很多

  • 最近 她 在 减肥,所以 瘦 了 很 多Zuìjìn tā zài jiǎnféi, suǒyǐ shòu le hěn duō .Recently, she has lost a lot of weight because she is losing weight.
  • 她 最近 吃 得 很 多 , 可能 是 怀孕 了 。 Tā zuìjìn chī de hěn duō , kěnéng shì huáiyùn le.She has been eating a lot lately, probably because she is pregnant.

Websites