几 + Measure Word (quantity question)

• Pinyin: jǐ
• Formation: 几 + Measure Word + Noun ?

Meaning

The word 几 (jǐ) is used before a measure word to ask 'how many' when the expected answer is a small number, typically under ten. It replaces the number in a quantity phrase.

Chinese requires measure words between numbers and nouns, and questions about quantity follow the same rule. 几 replaces the number slot: 几个人 (how many people), 几本书 (how many books). For larger quantities (roughly ten or above), use 多少 instead — 多少 does not require a measure word, though one can be added. A key distinction: 几 implies the speaker expects a small number, while 多少 is open-ended. 几 can also mean 'several' in statements (e.g., 我买了几本书 = I bought several books). In time expressions, 几 asks about specific numbers: 几点 (what time), 几月 (which month), 星期几 (which day of the week).

Examples

1. 你家有几口人？ How many people are in your family?
2. 你要买几个苹果？ How many apples do you want to buy?
3. 你们班有几个学生？ How many students are in your class?

Usage Guide

Context: spoken, written, everyday

Tone: interrogative

Do Say

• 你有几个兄弟姐妹？
• 今天星期几？
• 你学了几年中文？
• 这个房间有几把椅子？

Don't Say

• 你有几朋友？(几 must be followed by a measure word before the noun — say 几个朋友, not 几朋友) → 你有几个朋友？
• 你们学校有几学生？(When the expected number is large, use 多少 instead of 几 — 几 implies a small number under ten) → 你们学校有多少学生？

Origin & History

The character 几 originally depicted a small table or stool. Its use as an interrogative for small numbers developed separately, likely from its phonetic value. In modern Mandarin it serves double duty as 'how many' (small) and 'several.'

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal