Quantity Complements 1

Grammar Point:
A “數量補語数量补语 shùliàng bǔyǔ” (Quantitative Complement) indicates the quantity, frequency, or duration of an action or state. In this article, we will focus on discussing the frequency or quantity of an action or state.hinese Quantitative Complement

Chinese Quantitative Complement

Structure

Adj. + Quantity Complement

我wǒ比bǐ弟弟dìdi大dà三sān歲suì我wǒ比bǐ弟弟dìdi大dà三sān岁suì
I am three years older than my brother.

他的tāde錢qián比bǐ我wǒ多duō一些yìxiē他的tāde钱qián比bǐ我wǒ多duō一些yìxiē
He has a little more money than I do.

這zhè家jiā店diàn比bǐ那nà家jiā店diàn貴guì10 塊kuài錢qián这zhè家jiā店diàn比bǐ那nà家jiā店diàn贵guì10 块kuài钱qián
This store is 10 dollars more expensive than that store.

台灣Táiwān的de冬天dōngtiān很hěn潮濕cháoshī， 只有zhǐyǒu南部nánbù乾gān一點yìdiǎn台湾Táiwān的de冬天dōngtiān很hěn潮湿cháoshī， 只有zhǐyǒu南部nánbù干gān一点儿yìdiǎnr
The winter in Taiwan is very humid, only the south is a little dryer.

V + Frequency Complement

我wǒ去qù過guò兩liǎng次cì我wǒ去qù过guò两liǎng次cì
I have been there twice.

這zhè本běn書shū很hěn有趣yǒuqù， 所以suǒyǐ我wǒ看kàn了le兩liǎng遍biàn这zhè本běn书shū很hěn有意思yǒuyìsi， 所以suǒyǐ我wǒ看kàn了le两liǎng遍biàn
This book is very interesting, so I read it twice.

• Differences between 次 cì and 遍 biàn: Synonyms of “Times” in Chinese

不好意思bùhǎoyìsī老闆lǎobǎn正在zhèngzài開會kāihuì， 請qǐng你nǐ等一下děngyíxià不好意思bùhǎoyìsī老板lǎobǎn正在zhèngzài开会kāihuì， 请qǐng你nǐ等一下děngyíxià
Sorry, the boss is having a meeting. Please wait a moment.

With Object

V + Frequency Complement + O

When the object refers to a thing, it should come after the quantitative complement.

我wǒ讀dú了le三sān遍biàn這zhè本běn書shū我wǒ读dú了le三sān遍biàn这zhè本běn书shū
I have read this book three times.

你nǐ能néng借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià你的nǐde手機shǒujī嗎ma你nǐ能néng借jiè我wǒ一下yíxià你的nǐde手机shǒujī吗ma
May I borrow your cellphone for a second?

姐姐jiějie喝hē了le三sān口kǒu我的wǒde咖啡kāfēi姐姐jiějie喝hē了le三sān口kǒu我的wǒde咖啡kāfēi
My sister drank three sips of my coffee.

V + O + Frequency Complement

If the object of a verb specifies a person, animal, or location, it can be placed either before or after the quantitative complement.

我wǒ去qù過guò台灣Táiwān很hěn多duō次cì我wǒ去qù过guò台湾Táiwān很hěn多duō次cì
I have been to Taiwan many times.

我wǒ去qù過guò很hěn多duō次cì台灣Táiwān我wǒ去qù过guò很hěn多duō次cì台湾Táiwān
I have been to Taiwan many times.

我wǒ找zhǎo了le他tā兩liǎng次cì我wǒ找zhǎo了le他tā两liǎng次cì
I looked for him twice.

• Quantitative Complements 2 (HSK 3)