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Lesson

Approximate Numbers (左右 / 几 / 多)

1. Explain it simply

左右 means 'about/around'. Put it AFTER the whole amount: 三十岁左右, 八点左右.

几 means 'a few / -teen'. Put it before the measure word: 十几个 (ten-something), 几个 (a few).

多 means 'and a bit more'. For round tens it goes before the measure: 二十多块, 三十多岁.

For a single unit, 多 goes after the measure: 一个多小时.

2. Show examples

他三十岁左右。

Tā sānshí suì zuǒyòu.

He is around thirty.

左右 after the amount

有十几个学生。

Yǒu shí jǐ gè xuésheng.

There are ten-something students.

十几 = ten-plus

这本书二十多块。

Zhè běn shū èrshí duō kuài.

This book costs twenty-odd kuai.

多 before the measure

我等了一个多小时。

Wǒ děng le yī gè duō xiǎoshí.

Sandhi:Wǒ děng le yí gè duō xiǎoshí.

I waited over an hour.

多 after the measure (single unit)

3. Share a tip

左右 goes at the end of the amount; 几 goes before the measure; 多 goes before the measure for round tens (二十多块) but after it for one unit (一个多小时).

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