HSK 2 grammar · new HSK syllabus
Rough numbers: 几, 多
几个 = a few; 十多个 = more than ten; 一个多小时 = over an hour.
Structure
- 几 + measure word
- Number + 多 + measure word
- Number + measure word + 多
How it works
In statements, 几 means “a few”: 我买了几本书. 十几 means “ten-something” (11–19): 十几个人.
多 after a round number means “more than”: 二十多个学生 = twenty-odd students.
With units that can be divided, such as hours and kilos, 多 goes after the measure word: 一个多小时 = over an hour.
Examples
-
我买了几本中文书。
Wǒ mǎi le jǐ běn Zhōngwén shū.
I bought a few Chinese books.
-
教室里有十几个学生。
Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu shí jǐ gè xuéshēng.
There are about fifteen students in the classroom.
-
他们公司有一百多个人。
Tāmen gōngsī yǒu yì bǎi duō gè rén.
There are over a hundred people in their company.
-
我等了一个多小时。
Wǒ děng le yí gè duō xiǎoshí.
I waited for more than an hour.
-
这件衣服三十多块钱。
Zhè jiàn yīfu sān shí duō kuài qián.
This piece of clothing costs thirty-something yuan.
Words in these examples (27)
| 我 | wǒ | I; me | HSK 1 |
| 买 | mǎi | to buy | HSK 1 |
| 了 | le | (particle marking a completed action or a change) | HSK 1 |
| 几 | jǐ | how many (usually under ten); a few | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | (measure word for books) | HSK 1 |
| 中文 | Zhōngwén | Chinese (language) | HSK 1 |
| 书 | shū | book | HSK 1 |
| 教室 | jiàoshì | classroom | HSK 2 |
| 里 | lǐ | inside; in | HSK 1 |
| 有 | yǒu | to have; there is | HSK 1 |
| 十 | shí | ten | HSK 1 |
| 个 | gè | (general measure word) | HSK 1 |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student | HSK 1 |
| 他们 | tāmen | they; them | HSK 1 |
| 公司 | gōngsī | company; firm | HSK 1 |
| 一 | yī | one | HSK 1 |
| 百 | bǎi | hundred | HSK 1 |
| 多 | duō | many; much; (in questions) how | HSK 1 |
| 人 | rén | person; people | HSK 1 |
| 等 | děng | to wait | HSK 2 |
| 小时 | xiǎoshí | hour | HSK 1 |
| 这 | zhè | this | HSK 1 |
| 件 | jiàn | (measure word for clothes, matters, items) | HSK 1 |
| 衣服 | yīfu | clothes | HSK 1 |
| 三 | sān | three | HSK 1 |
| 块 | kuài | (measure word) piece; yuan (spoken) | HSK 1 |
| 钱 | qián | money | HSK 1 |
Common mistakes
-
✗一多个小时
✓一个多小时
With 小时, 多 goes after the measure word.
-
✗我有几朋友。
✓我有几个朋友。
几 needs a measure word.
Check yourself
Choose the word that fills the gap.
1. 我们班有二十 个学生。
2. 我在中国住了一年 。
3. 他买了 个苹果。