Approximate Number 1 – jǐ

Grammar Point:
The Chinese word 幾几 jǐ is often used to indicate an approximate or indefinite number. It is similar to the English words “a few,” “several,” or “a couple of” when used to describe a small, unspecified quantity.

幾/几 jǐ

Numbers + jǐ （10～99）

我們wǒmen家jiā有yǒu二十èrshí幾jǐ本běn書shū我们wǒmen家jiā有yǒu二十èrshí几jǐ本běn书shū
We have over twenty books at home.

他tā學xué了le十shí幾jǐ年nián的de中文zhōngwén他tā学xué了le十shí几jǐ年nián的de中文zhōngwén
He has been studying Chinese for over ten years.

哈爾濱Hāěrbīn的de冬天dōngtiān平均píngjūn是shì零下língxià二十èrshí幾jǐ度dù哈尔滨Hāěrbīn的de冬天dōngtiān平均píngjūn是shì零下língxià二十èrshí几jǐ度dù
The average temperature in Harbin’s winter is over minus twenty degrees.

我wǒ奶奶nǎinai八十bāshí幾jǐ歲suì了le我wǒ奶奶nǎinai八十bāshí几jǐ岁suì了le
My grandmother is over eighty years old.

Jǐ + shí/bǎi/qiān/wàn + Measure word（10～99999）

In Chinese, we can combine 幾几 jǐ with 十 shí, 百 bǎi, 千 qiān, or 萬万 wàn, just as in English, you might say, ‘a few hundred’ or ‘a few thousand.

我wǒ身上shēnshàng只zhǐ有yǒu幾jǐ十shí塊kuài錢qián不夠búgòu買mǎi飯fàn我wǒ身上shēnshang只zhǐ有yǒu几jǐ十shí块kuài钱qián不够búgòu买mǎi饭fàn
I only have a few tens of dollars on me, not enough to buy a meal.

街上jiēshàng有yǒu幾jǐ百bǎi個ge人rén在zài向xiàng政府zhèngfǔ抗議kàngyì街上jiēshang有yǒu几jǐ百bǎi个ge人rén在zài向xiàng政府zhèngfǔ抗议kàngyì
There are hundreds of people protesting in the street against the government.

這zhè次cì的de地震dìzhèn造成zàochéng了le幾jǐ千qiān戶hù停電tíngdiàn这zhè次cì的de地震dìzhèn造成zàochéng了le几jǐ千qiān户hù停电tíngdiàn
This earthquake has caused power outages for thousands of households.

他tā是shì富二代fùèrdài的de兒子érzi， 幾jǐ萬wàn塊kuài在zài他tā眼裡yǎnlǐ是shì小錢xiǎoqián他tā是shì富二代fùèrdài的de儿子érzi， 几jǐ万wàn块kuài在zài他tā眼里yǎnlǐ是shì小钱xiǎoqián
He is the son of a second-generation wealthy individual, and tens of thousands of dollars are considered pocket change to him.

中國Zhōngguó的de三線sānxiàn城市chéngshì有yǒu幾jǐ百萬bǎiwàn個ge人rén中国Zhōngguó的de三线sānxiàn城市chéngshì有yǒu几jǐ百万bǎiwàn个ge人rén
China’s third-tier cities have millions of people.

FYI
In China, cities are categorized into tiers based on factors like population and economic development. The tier system includes:
First-tier cities: Most developed, e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen.
Second-tier cities: Economically significant, e.g., Tianjin, Chongqing, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chengdu.
Third-tier cities: Smaller and less developed, e.g., Zhengzhou, Changsha, Dalian.
Fourth and lower-tier cities: Smaller and less economically developed.
Understanding the city tier system is crucial for businesses entering the Chinese market. Tailoring approaches based on each tier’s unique characteristics ensures a more effective market strategy, considering variations in consumer behavior, preferences, and market dynamics. This understanding is key to the success of business endeavors in China.

Jǐ – Several （2～9）

我wǒ上網shàngwǎng買mǎi了le幾jǐ本běn書shū我wǒ上网shàngwǎng买mǎi了le几jǐ本běn书shū
I bought several books online.

他tā有yǒu幾jǐ位wèi中國Zhōngguó朋友péngyǒu他tā有yǒu几jǐ位wèi中国Zhōngguó朋友péngyou
He has several Chinese friends.

他tā在zài台灣Táiwān住zhù了le幾jǐ年nián他tā在zài台湾Táiwān住zhù了le几jǐ年nián
He has lived in Taiwan for several years.

怎麼zěnme說shuō你nǐ幾jǐ句jù， 你nǐ就jiù生氣shēngqì了le怎么zěnme说shuō你nǐ几jǐ句jù， 你nǐ就jiù生气shēngqì了le
I just said a few words to you; why did you get angry?

喝hē了le幾jǐ杯bēi酒jiǔ後hòu， 他tā開始kāishǐ哭kū了le起來qǐlái喝hē了le几jǐ杯bēi酒jiǔ后hòu， 他tā开始kāishǐ哭kū了le起来qǐlái
After drinking a few cups of alcohol, he started crying.

Hǎojǐ – Quite a Few （usually more than 5）

他tā比bǐ我wǒ大dà好幾hǎojǐ歲suì他tā比bǐ我wǒ大dà好几hǎojǐ岁suì
He is quite a few years older than me.

這zhè部bù電影diànyǐng， 你nǐ已經yǐjīng看kàn了le好幾hǎojǐ遍biàn了le这zhè部bù电影diànyǐng， 你nǐ已经yǐjīng看kàn了le好几hǎojǐ遍biàn了le
You’ve already watched this movie quite a few times.

好幾hǎojǐ個ge人rén跟gēn我wǒ抱怨bàoyuàn你nǐ上班shàngbān常常chángcháng摸魚mōyú好几hǎojǐ个ge人rén跟gēn我wǒ抱怨bàoyuàn你nǐ上班shàngbān常常chángcháng摸鱼mōyú
Quite a few people have complained to me that you often slack off at work.

FYI
The Chinese slang term 摸魚鱼 mōyú literally translates to “touching fish.” However, it is commonly used as an informal expression in the context of the workplace, and it has a specific meaning related to slacking off, idling, or not working diligently. When someone says another person is 摸魚鱼 mōyú, it suggests that the individual is not putting in the effort or is engaged in activities unrelated to work during work hours.
The term 摸魚鱼 mōyú is believed to have its roots in the Chinese idiom渾水摸魚鱼 húnshuǐ mōyú, which literally translates to “touching fish in muddy waters.” This idiom refers to the act of seizing the opportunity to catch fish while the water is murky, metaphorically indicating taking advantage of chaos or confusion to gain unexpected benefits.

我wǒ已經yǐjīng好幾hǎojǐ年nián沒méi回國huíguó了le我wǒ已经yǐjīng好几hǎojǐ年nián没méi回国huíguó了le
I haven’t returned to my home country for quite a few years.

最近zuìjìn一連yìlián下xià了le好幾hǎojǐ天tiān的de雨yǔ， 我wǒ都dōu快kuài發霉fāméi了le最近zuìjìn一连yìlián下xià了le好几hǎojǐ天tiān的de雨yǔ， 我wǒ都dōu快kuài发霉fāméi了le
It has been raining continuously for quite a few days recently, and I’m getting moldy.

Practice

TouchHover over the space to see the answers.

✔️ Near my home, there are over ten food stalls. Which one would you like to try?

我家wǒjiā附近fùjìn有yǒu十shí幾jǐ家jiā小吃xiǎochī店diàn， 你nǐ想xiǎng試試shìshì哪一家nǎyìjiā？ 我家wǒjiā附近fùjìn有yǒu十shí几jǐ家jiā小吃xiǎochī店diàn， 你nǐ想xiǎng试试shìshì哪一家nǎyìjiā？

✔️ I have been working in this city for the past several years.

我wǒ過去guòqù幾jǐ年nián一直yìzhí在zài這個zhège城市chéngshì工作gōngzuò我wǒ过去guòqù几jǐ年nián一直yìzhí在zài这个zhège城市chéngshì工作gōngzuò

✔️ The coffee shop offers cakes in quite a few flavors.

咖啡店kāfēidiàn裡lǐ有yǒu好幾hǎojǐ種zhǒng口味kǒuwèi的de蛋糕dàngāo咖啡店kāfēidiàn里lǐ有yǒu好几hǎojǐ种zhǒng口味kǒuwèi的de蛋糕dàngāo

• Approximate Number with 大約约 dàyuē (HSK 3)

• Approximate Number with 來来 lái (HSK 4)