Measure Words in Quantity Questions

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

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:

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. 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:

1. 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?
2. 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?
3. 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

1. 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!
2. 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!
3. 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?