zhongwen-obsidian/Interrogative Measures.md

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2024-05-26 19:01:11 +01:00
#几 #多少 #question
Measure words are also required in questions asking for a number/quantity. The interrogative word, 几jǐ or 多少duōshao, appears before the measure word.
Generally 几jǐ is used for anticipated answers smaller than 10, and 多少duōshao is used for any.
- 几 + (measure word)
1. 你们有几个中文老师?
nǐmen yǒu jǐge Zhōngwén lǎoshī
How many Chinese teachers do you have?
_(Expecting ~1-3)_
2. 你有几个姐姐妹妹?
nǐ yǒu jǐge jiějie mèimei
How many sisters do you have?
_(Answer is likely to be less than 10)_
- 多少 + (measure word)
1. 图书馆有多少本中文画报?
túshūguǎn yǒu duōshaoběn Zhōngwén huàbào
How many pictorials does the library have?
_(Answer is likely to be more than 10)_
2. 你们学院有多少个系?
nǐmen xuéyuàn yǒu duōshaoge xì
How many departments does your institute have?
_(Answer likely more than 10)_
# 多少 without a measure word
多少 can be used with or without a measure word. There is however a slight difference in connotation depending on whether the measure word is used or not. Generally the measure word is omitted when a huge figure is anticipated as the response:
1. 中文系有多少(个)学生?
Zhōngwén xì yǒu duōshao(ge) xuésheng
How many students does the Chinese department have?
2. 中国有多少人?
Zhōngguó yǒu duōshao rén
How many people does China have?
(We omit the 个 as the result is surely huge.)