HSK 3
Correct

大概 vs 左右

/ dàgài vs zuǒyòu /
Strokes
https://i.cchatty2.com/filters:format(webp)/fit-in/684x0/img/202005/大概vs左右-Chinese-grammar-Cchatty-yyyy-1589851941.jpg

Formula

1
大概 + 多少
2
大概 + 多少 + Quantifier
3
大概 + Verb + 多少 + Quantifier (+Noun)
4
Verb + 大概 + 多少 + Quantifier (+Noun)
5
Numeral + 左右
6
Numeral + Quantifier + 左右
7
Numeral + Quantifier + Noun + 左右
8
Adjacent numbers + Quantifier

Definition

大概 or 左右 with a numeral together to indicate an approximate quantity. Two adjacent numbers in the range from 1 to 9 can also express an approximate quantity.

Example

大概
A numeral is often followed by 多, such as 大概一百多.
大概 + 多少 大概 + 多少 + Quantifier 大概 + Verb + 多少 + Quantifier (+Noun) Verb + 大概 + 多少 + Quantifier (+Noun)
1
A
A
  
:
zhè
běn
shū
kàn
le
duōshǎo
多少
  
?
B
B
  
:
gài
大概
bàn
一半
  

A: How much have you read this book ? B: About half.

2
gài
大概
sānshí
三十
kuài
  

About 30 kuai.

3
Zhuōzi
桌子
shàng
gài
大概
yǒu
shí
běn
shū
  

There are about 10 on the desk.

4
gài
大概
xiě
le
èrshí
二十
duō
ge
  
  
/
xiě
le
gài
大概
èrshí
二十
duō
ge
  

He wrote about 20 characters.

左右
Such a structure can be preceded by 大概, eg,大概一百个左右。
Numeral + 左右 Numeral + Quantifier + 左右 Numeral + Quantifier + Noun + 左右
5
Zhè
dòng
lóu
sānshí
三十
zuǒyòu
左右
  

This building is about 30 meters.

6
Shí
rén
zuǒyòu
左右
  

About 10 people.

Adjacent numbers
1) For numbers under 9, 一两个 cannot be substituted with 一二个. When two adjacent numbers above 10 express an approximate quantity, the same number is omitted. Integers like 10 and 20 can be used as 一二十个. eg,十七八个、五六百。

2) Such a pattern can also go with 大概 or 左右, eg, 四五个左右、大概七八支。
Adjacent numbers + Quantifier
7
七八
zhī

seven or eight pens

8
四五
rén

four or five people

9
men
我们
bān
yǒu
shí
十七八
xuésheng
学生
  

There are seventeen or eighteen students in our class.

10
Cóng
zhèrdào
这儿
shūguǎn
图书馆
gàiyǒu
大概
bǎi
七八百
  
  

It's about seven or eight hundred metres from here to the library.

Exercise

Answer the questions with大概, 左右 or adjacent numbers.

 

1. 你们班有多少人?男生多少个,女生多少个?

2. 你们学校有多少学生?

3. 你认识多少个汉字?

4. 你的老师有50岁吗?

5. 你有多少本书?

6. 你包里有多少钱?

7. 你想多大结婚?

8. 在你们国家,人们多大年龄退休?