Expressing approximate numbers: 概数表达法
In Chinese, two consecutive numbers used together express an approximate, inexact quantity.
In English it usually comes out as:
… or …
about …
some …
Core Rule
Two consecutive numbers + measure word / noun
Meaning: an approximate quantity
For example:
七八天seven or eight days
五六个学生five or six students
三四年前three or four years ago
Examples
春节大概放七八天假。
For Spring Festival there's about seven or eight days off.
Structure
七 + 八 + 天
seven + eight + day
春节 — Spring Festival
大概 — roughly
放假 — to have time off
七八天 — seven or eight days
Here 七八天 doesn't mean exactly 7 or 8 days — it's an approximate stretch of time.
教室里来了五六个学生。
Five or six students came into the classroom.
Structure
五 + 六 + 个学生
five + six + students
教室里 — in / into the classroom
来了 — came
五六个学生 — five or six students
Here 五六个 states an approximate number.
这些照片是三四年前照的吧？
These photos were taken three or four years ago, weren't they?
Structure
三 + 四 + 年前
three + four + years ago
这些照片 — these photos
三四年前 — three or four years ago
照的 — were taken
吧 — the tone of a guess seeking confirmation
Here 三四年前 doesn't give an exact time — it means roughly three or four years back.
Quick Rule
Two consecutive numbers = an approximate quantity
Examples:
七八天seven or eight days
五六个学生five or six students
三四年前three or four years ago