Grammar Point:
In Chinese, there are several words and phrases used to express approximate numbers or quantities. Four common ones are 大概 dàgài, 大约 dàyuē, 左右 zuǒyòu and 前后 qiánhòu.
Dàgài & Dàyuē
Both of them often used to indicate a rough estimate or approximation. They can be translated to “approximately,” “about,” or “roughly.” 大约 dàyuē is slightly more formal than 大概 dàgài.
你大概什麼時候來台灣?你大概什么时候来台湾?
When do you plan to come to Taiwan?
大概有五百人大概有五百人
There are approximately five hundred people.
請加入大約一杯的牛奶请加入大约一杯的牛奶
Please add about a cup of milk.
大約七點的時候,有一通你的電話大约七点的时候,有一通你的电话
Around seven o’clock, there was a phone call looking for you.
我大概還需要十分鐘我大概还需要十分钟
I probably need another ten minutes.
Zuǒyòu & Qiánhòu
In Chinese, the terms 左右 zuǒyòu and 前后 qiánhòu are also often used to express approximate numbers or quantities. 左右 zuǒyòu is often used in contexts related to numbers, amounts, or sizes. 前后 qiánhòu is commonly used in contexts related to time, schedules, or durations.
Numbers +zuǒyòu/qiánhòu
我應該8點左右會到家我应该8点左右会到家
I should be home around 8 o’clock.
壽司,你買10盒左右應該就夠了寿司,你买10盒左右应该就够了
For sushi, buying around 10 boxes should be enough.
聖誕節前後的機票都很貴圣诞节前后的机票都很贵
Airfare around Christmas is expensive.
以前台灣的狗進了收容所後,在12天前後就會被安樂死以前台湾的狗进了收容所后,在12天前后就会被安乐死
Previously, in Taiwan, dogs in shelters used to be euthanized after around 12 days.
🐾 The vet who ‘euthanised’ herself in Taiwan 🐾
Once, there was a female veterinarian who, out of her love for animals, gave up a lucrative veterinary job to work at an animal shelter. However, she never imagined that her first task would be euthanizing 60 cats and dogs. These abandoned animals were discarded for various reasons – some for being too noisy, some for being too quiet, some for being too aggressive, and others for being too docile and not suitable for guarding homes. People always find reasons to abandon them. After returning home, the veterinarian cried all night. Then she decided to take adorable photos of these cats and dogs and share them online to increase adoption rates. However, the results were limited, and she even faced criticism from some “self-proclaimed justice warriors” who accused her of being an executioner. In the end, she kept the last dose of euthanasia drugs for herself, leaving a note for the world: “Life is equal.“
Afterward, Taiwan revised its laws and abolished euthanasia for animals.
Numbers
This expression is a colloquial way of expressing approximate numbers in Chinese.
我大概去兩三天就回來了我大概去两三天就回来了
I’ll probably be back in two or three days.
我記得她好像今年十七八歲了我记得她好像今年十七八岁了
I remember she’s around seventeen or eighteen this year.
你說謊一兩次就算了,這麼多次要我怎麼幫你你说谎一两次就算了,这么多次要我怎么帮你
Telling a lie once or twice is fine, but how can I help you when it happens so many times?
這桌子不貴,就兩三百塊錢吧这桌子不贵,就两三百块钱吧
This table isn’t expensive, maybe just two or three hundred dollars.
他打算九十月的時候去加拿大玩他打算九十月的时候去加拿大玩
He plans to visit Canada around September.
Practice
TouchHover over the space to see the answers.
✔️ My budget is approximately around 5000 dollars.
我的預算大概在5000塊左右我的预算大概在5000块左右
✔️ He has done about 7 or 8 jobs.
他做過7、8份工作他做过7、8份工作
✔️ What time do we start tomorrow’s event, approximately?
明天的活動,我們大約幾點開始?明天的活动,我们大约几点开始?
- Approximate Number with 几 jǐ (HSK 3)
- Approximate Number with 来 lái (HSK 4)