Expressing an approximate number with “多”
In Chinese “多” (duō) follows a number or a numeral phrase and shows that the amount is a little more than the one stated.
It is usually rendered as:
“over…”
“more than…”
“…-odd / a little more than…”
The rule
If the number is a multiple of ten, “多” usually comes right after the number itself.
Number + 多 + measure word + noun
For example:
二十多个学生 — over twenty students
If the number is not a multiple of ten, “多” usually comes after the measure word.
Number + measure word + 多 + noun
For example:
五块多钱 — a little more than five yuan
Examples
北京大学有四万多名学生呢！
Peking University has over forty thousand students!
四万 + 多 + 名学生
40,000 + and more + students
北京大学Peking University
有there is
四万多名学生over forty thousand students
呢an emphatic tone
Here 四万 is a multiple of ten, so “多” comes after the number.
教室里有二十多个学生。
There are over twenty students in the classroom.
二十 + 多 + 个学生
twenty + and more + students
教室里in the classroom
有there is
二十多个学生over twenty students
Here 二十 is a multiple of ten, so the form used is:
二十 + 多 + 个学生
这两个苹果五块多钱。
These two apples cost a little over five yuan.
五 + 块 + 多 + 钱
five + yuan + and a bit + money
这两个苹果these two apples
五块多钱a little over five yuan
Here 五 is not a multiple of ten, so “多” comes after the measure word 块.
Quick rule
If the number is a multiple of ten:
Number + 多 + measure word + noun
四万多名学生 — over forty thousand students
二十多个学生 — over twenty students
If the number is not a multiple of ten:
Number + measure word + 多
五块多钱 — a little over five yuan