nuMberS
6.5
6.5 estimates and approximations
To indicate that a quantity is ‘more or less’ the stated number, use the phrase 左右 zuǒyòu
‘more or less,’ as follows:
number + classifier (+ noun) + 左右 zuǒyòu
五十个(人)左右
五十個(人)左右
wǔshí gè (rén) zuǒyòu
about 50 (people) (50 people more or less)
一百块钱左右
一百塊錢左右
yībǎi kuài qián zuǒyòu
around $100 ($100 more or less)
To indicate that a quantity is almost but not quite the stated amount, use 差不多 chàbuduō +
number ‘almost number.’
差不多 chàbuduō + number + classifier (+ noun)
差不多五十个(人)
差不多五十個(人)
chàbuduō wǔshí gè (rén)
almost 50 people
差不多一百块(钱)
差不多一百塊(錢)
chàbuduō yībǎi kuài (qián)
almost $100
To indicate that a quantity is greater than or equal to the stated number, use 以上 yǐshàng ‘or
more.’ For a more formal expression with the same meaning, use 之上 zhī shàng.
number (+ classifier + noun) + 以上 yǐshàng/之上 zhī shàng
五十(个人)以上 五十(个人)之上
五十(個人)以上 五十(個人)之上
wǔshí (gè rén) yǐshàng wǔshí (gè rén) zhī shàng
50 (people) or more 50 (people) or more
To indicate that the actual number is less than or equal to the stated number, use 以下 yǐxià
‘or fewer.’ For a more formal expression with the same meaning, use 之下 zhī xià.
number (+ classifier + noun) + 以下 yǐxià/之下 zhī xià
五十(个人)以下 五十(个人)之下
五十(個人)以下 五十(個人)之下
wǔshí (gè rén) yǐxià wǔshí (gè rén) zhī xià
50 (people) or less 50 (people) or less
50 or fewer (people) 50 or fewer (people)
To indicate that the actual time lies within a specified period of time, use 以內 yǐnèi. For a
more formal expression with the same meaning, use 之內 zhī nèi.
一年以内 一年之內
yì nián yǐnèi yì nián zhī nèi
within one year within one year
