十几 · 三四个 · 左右 · 前后
rough numbers: a dozen or so, three or four, about, around
Structure
十几／几十 + 量词 · 数1 + 数2 + 量词 · 数量 + 左右 · 时间 + 前后
What it means
Four ways to give a rough number: 十几 “eleven to nineteen” and 几十 “a few dozen”; two neighbouring numbers, 三四 “three or four”; 左右 “about”; 前后 “around (a time)”.
How it is built
十几 + measure word: 十几个学生 (a dozen or so students). Neighbouring numbers: 两三天 (two or three days). Amount + 左右: 三十岁左右 (about thirty). Time + 前后: 春节前后 (around Spring Festival).
When to use it
Neighbouring numbers need no 或者 and no comma: 三四天. 左右 comes after an amount or a clock time: 30左右, 七点左右. 前后 comes only after a point in time or an event: 2013年前后, 春节前后.
Watch out
Never use 前后 after money or weight: ✗ 300块前后 ✓ 300块左右. Both come after the number, never before it: ✗ 左右三十岁 ✓ 三十岁左右.
Examples
教室里有十几个学生。
There are a dozen or so students in the classroom.
这件事两三天就能做好。
This will be done in two or three days.
他三十岁左右。
He’s about thirty.
春节前后，大家都很忙。
Around Spring Festival, everyone is busy.
Learn this in HSK 3 · Lesson 10: 空气越来越好 (Clearing the air)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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