多

• Pinyin: duō
• Hanzi breakdown: 多 = two 夕 (evening) stacked — repeated evenings conveying the idea of 'many'

Meaning

Many; much; more. Used to describe a large quantity or to ask about quantity.

One of the most versatile words in Mandarin. As an adjective it means 'many/much,' as an adverb before adjectives it means 'how' (多大, 多远). In comparative structures, 多 indicates 'more.' Also appears in common phrases like 多少 (how much/many).

Examples

1. 学校里有很多学生。 There are many students at the school.
2. 你多吃一点水果吧。 Eat a little more fruit.
3. 今天的作业比昨天多。 Today's homework is more than yesterday's.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, academic

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这里人很多。(There are a lot of people here.)
• 你要多喝水。(You should drink more water.)

Don't Say

• 说'多人在这里'来表示人很多。(Don't say 多人在这里 — in Chinese, say 这里人很多 with 很 before 多 as a predicate adjective)

Origin & History

Composed of two 夕 (evening) characters stacked, suggesting the accumulation of many evenings — an ancient way to express plurality.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal