Measure Words in Quantity Questions
Measure Words in Quantity Questions
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
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Level: A2 / HSK1
Similar to:
- Age with “sui” (A1)
- Measure word “ge” (A1)
- Measure words for counting (A2)
- Measure words with “this” and “that” (A2)
- Measure words for verbs (B1)
Used for: Asking questions
Keywords: 几
Introduction:
Quantity questions are essential for asking “how much?” or “how many?” in Chinese. To do this, you’ll use the question word 几 (jǐ) with measure words.
Asking About Small Numbers with 几 (jǐ)
Structure:
Subj. + Verb + 几 + Measure Word + Noun?
In this structure, 几 (jǐ) replaces a number to ask about the quantity of something using measure words.
Examples:
- 他有几个孩子?
- Pinyin: Tā yǒu jǐ gè háizi?
- Hindi Pronunciation: ता योउ जी गे हाइज़ि?
- English Meaning: How many kids does he have?
- Hindi Meaning: उसके कितने बच्चे हैं?
- 你家有几个房间?
- Pinyin: Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ gè fángjiān?
- Hindi Pronunciation: नी जिया योउ जी गे फांग्जियान?
- English Meaning: How many rooms are there in your house?
- Hindi Meaning: तुम्हारे घर में कितने कमरे हैं?
- 他们在这里住几个星期?
- Pinyin: Tāmen zài zhèlǐ zhù jǐ gè xīngqī?
- Hindi Pronunciation: तामेन जाए झे ली झू जी गे शिंग ची?
- English Meaning: How many weeks are they staying here?
- Hindi Meaning: वे यहाँ कितने हफ्ते रहेंगे?
Asking About Big Numbers with 多少 (duōshao)
When the number is uncertain but you assume it’s definitely more than ten, use 多少 (duōshao) instead of 几 (jǐ).
Structure:
Subj. + Verb + 多少 + Measure Word + Noun?
Examples:
- 你去过多少个国家?
- Pinyin: Nǐ qù guo duōshao gè guójiā?
- Hindi Pronunciation: नी चू गुओ दोउशाओ गे गुओजिया?
- English Meaning: How many countries have you been to?
- Hindi Meaning: तुम कितने देशों में गए हो?
- 你们班有多少个学生?
- Pinyin: Nǐmen bān yǒu duōshao gè xuéshēng?
- Hindi Pronunciation: नीमेन बान योउ दोउशाओ गे शुएशेंग?
- English Meaning: How many students are there in your class?
- Hindi Meaning: तुम्हारी कक्षा में कितने छात्र हैं?
- 你大学的时候看了多少本书?
- Pinyin: Nǐ dàxué de shíhou kàn le duōshao běn shū?
- Hindi Pronunciation: नी दाशुए दे शिहोउ कान ले दोउशाओ बें शू?
- English Meaning: How many books did you read when you were in college?
- Hindi Meaning: तुमने कॉलेज में कितनी किताबें पढ़ीं?
Exceptions and Notes
- 几 (jǐ) is used for asking about small numbers (usually less than ten).
- 多少 (duōshao) is used for asking about larger, indefinite numbers (usually more than ten).
- Measure words are mandatory in Chinese and vary depending on the noun.
Grammar Explanation (English and Hindi)
English:
- Use 几 (jǐ) for smaller, countable numbers with appropriate measure words.
- Use 多少 (duōshao) for larger quantities where the exact number is unknown or expected to be large.
Hindi:
- छोटे, गिने जाने वाले नंबरों के लिए उचित माप शब्दों के साथ 几 (jǐ) का उपयोग करें।
- बड़े मात्रा के लिए, जहां सटीक संख्या अज्ञात हो या बड़ी होने की उम्मीद हो, 多少 (duōshao) का उपयोग करें।
Humorous Examples
- 他带了几只狗去上班?
- Pinyin: Tā dài le jǐ zhī gǒu qù shàngbān?
- Hindi Pronunciation: ता दाई ले जी झी गोउ छू शांग बान?
- English Meaning: How many dogs did he bring to work?
- Hindi Meaning: वह कितने कुत्ते काम पर लाया?
- Funny Twist: Imagine your boss showing up with a pack of dogs at the office!
- 你喝了多少瓶啤酒?
- Pinyin: Nǐ hē le duōshao píng píjiǔ?
- Hindi Pronunciation: नी ह ले दोउशाओ पिंग पीजिउ?
- English Meaning: How many bottles of beer did you drink?
- Hindi Meaning: तुमने कितनी बोतल बियर पी?
- Funny Twist: Count the bottles to find out why he’s been dancing on the table!
- 他们吃了几只鸡?
- Pinyin: Tāmen chī le jǐ zhī jī?
- Hindi Pronunciation: तामेन ची ले जी झी जी?
- English Meaning: How many chickens did they eat?
- Hindi Meaning: उन्होंने कितनी मुर्गियां खाईं?
- Funny Twist: Are they opening a chicken farm or having a feast?
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