Korean word

두세

Pronunciation

Romanizationtuse

Meaning

  • numeraltwo or three

Example

시험에서 두세 문제 틀렸어.si heo me seo tu se mun je teul lyeo sseo

I got two or three questions wrong on the test.

Illustration for 두세 (two or three)

More examples

회의에 두세 명만 참석했어.hoe ui e tu se myeong man cham seo kae sseo

Only two or three people attended the meeting.

Core concept

A small, approximate group of about two or three.

Common phrases

  • 두세 번tu se peon

    two or three times

  • 두세 개tu se kae

    two or three items

  • 두세 명tu se myeong

    two or three people

Similar words

한두handu: A small number of about one or two without stating the exact count.
두어tueo: An approximate amount near two or three for simple everyday quantities.
서너seoneo: An approximate number from three to four with no fixed count.

Definition in Korean

두세는 수량을 대략 표현할 때 쓰이는 수사로, 보통 둘 또는 셋 정도의 소량을 뜻한다.tu se neun su ryang eul tae ryak pyo hyeon hal ttae sseu i neun su sa ro po tong tul tto neun set cheong do ui so ryang eul tteu tan da

Word origin

It combines the native Korean number words for two and three, creating a range rather than one exact number.

Usage tips

  • English "a few" can cover a wider number, so this word is a better match when the count is expected to stay near two or three.

Word lists with this word