Asking about Degree with “多” (duō)
Asking about Degree with “多” (duō)
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
Introduction
How big? How busy? How cold? You can ask questions like these regarding the degree of an adjective with 多 (duō). This is one of the many uses of this versatile word.
Structure
In Chinese, 多 (duō) is often used to ask about the degree or extent of something. The structure is simple:
Structure:
Subj. + 多 + Adj. ?
This is an easy way to ask “How [adjective] is [subject]?”
Examples
Here are some examples to illustrate how to use 多 (duō) in different contexts:
- 她 多 高?
- Pinyin: Tā duō gāo?
- English: How tall is she?
- Hindi: वह कितनी लंबी है? (vah kitnī lambī hai?)
- 你家 多 大?
- Pinyin: Nǐ jiā duō dà?
- English: How large is your house?
- Hindi: तुम्हारा घर कितना बड़ा है? (tumhārā ghar kitnā baṛā hai?)
- 你 的 孩子 多 大?
- Pinyin: Nǐ de háizi duō dà?
- English: How old is your child?
- Hindi: तुम्हारा बच्चा कितना बड़ा है? (tumhārā bacchā kitnā baṛā hai?)
- 黄河 多 长?
- Pinyin: Huánghé duō cháng?
- English: How long is the Yellow River?
- Hindi: येलो रिवर कितनी लंबी है? (yelo rīvar kitnī lambī hai?)
- 你 家 离 这儿 多 远?
- Pinyin: Nǐ jiā lí zhèr duō yuǎn?
- English: How far is your house from here?
- Hindi: तुम्हारा घर यहाँ से कितना दूर है? (tumhārā ghar yahā̃ se kitnā dūr hai?)
- 你 要 在 美国 待 多 久?
- Pinyin: Nǐ yào zài Měiguó dāi duō jiǔ?
- English: How long are you going to stay in the USA?
- Hindi: तुम अमेरिका में कितने समय तक रहोगे? (tum Amerikā mẽ kitne samay tak rahoge?)
- 这些 东西 多 重?
- Pinyin: Zhèxiē dōngxi duō zhòng?
- English: How heavy are these things?
- Hindi: ये चीजें कितनी भारी हैं? (ye chīzẽ kitnī bhārī haĩ?)
- 你 知道 我们 现在 多 胖 吗?
- Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào wǒmen xiànzài duō pàng ma?
- English: Do you know how fat we are now?
- Hindi: क्या तुम्हें पता है कि अब हम कितने मोटे हैं? (kyā tumhẽ patā hai ki ab ham kitne mote haĩ?)
- 你 知道 这里 的 冬天 多 冷 吗?
- Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào zhèlǐ de dōngtiān duō lěng ma?
- English: Do you know how cold it is here in winter?
- Hindi: क्या तुम्हें पता है कि यहाँ की सर्दियाँ कितनी ठंडी होती हैं? (kyā tumhẽ patā hai ki yahā̃ kī sardiyā̃ kitnī ṭhaṇḍī hotī haĩ?)
- 你 知道 上海 的 房子 多 贵 吗?
- Pinyin: Nǐ zhīdào Shànghǎi de fángzi duō guì ma?
- English: Do you know how expensive housing is in Shanghai?
- Hindi: क्या तुम्हें पता है कि शंघाई में मकान कितने महंगे हैं? (kyā tumhẽ patā hai ki Shaṅghāī mẽ makān kitne mahaṅge haĩ?)
Exception
大 (dà) and 小 (xiǎo) can also be used to describe ages. The question phrase 多大 (duō dà) is often used to ask “how old.” However, it is an informal way to ask, usually reserved for peers, close friends, or children. The phrase 几岁 (jǐ suì) is most often used for children young enough to display their ages on one hand. Adults do not normally directly ask each other’s ages in a formal setting.
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