Chinese word

几

Pronunciation

Pinyinjǐ

Meaning

  • pronounhow many

Example

桌子上有几个苹果？zhuō zi shàng yǒu jǐ gè píng guǒ

How many apples are on the table?

Illustration for 几 (how many)

More examples

你家有几口人？nǐ jiā yǒu jí kǒu rén

How many people are in your family?

Core concept

A marker for a small, not-yet-specified count, whether the count is being requested or loosely reported.

Common phrases

  • 几个jǐ gè

    how many

  • 几口人jí kǒu rén

    how many people

  • 几岁jǐ suì

    how old

Similar words

多少duō shǎo: Asks about the number or amount of people, things, or other items.
几个jǐ gè: A casual way to ask how many people or things there are, with a classifier included in the phrase.

Definition in Chinese

作为代名词用于询问个数，常与量词连用，也可出现在年龄、时刻等固定搭配中。zuò wéi dài míng cí yòng yú xún wèn gè shù cháng yǔ liàng cí lián yòng yě kě chū xiàn zài nián líng shí kè děng gù dìng dā pèi zhōng

Word origin

The word 几 (jǐ, "how many") comes from the traditional written form of the same word through simplification, retaining its older connection with an uncertain or limited number.

Usage tips

  • Chinese often places this word before a classifier, age word, or clock-time word, making the following unit part of the pattern rather than optional decoration.

Other meanings

  • severalnoun

Word lists with this word