二三 (èr sān) — two or three (approximate small number)

Definition

二三 (èr sān) is an approximate numeral meaning "two or three" — used when the exact number is small and doesn't matter. It cannot be used as a precise count or a main number.

numeral
two or three (approximate small number)

Examples

  • 二三。
    Zhè ge gōng chéng xū yào èr sān nián de shí jiān cái néng wán chéng.
    This project will take two or three years to complete.
  • 二三。
    Tā dài le èr sān běn shū qù tú shū guǎn.
    He brought two or three books to the library.
  • 二三。
    Wǒ men zhī liáo le èr sān jù huà jiù fēn kāi le.
    We only exchanged two or three sentences before parting.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

二èrtwo
三sānthree

二 and 三 stand side by side to mean a small, indefinite number, hence 二三.

Characters in this word

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

二 is drawn as two parallel strokes, where the number of strokes shows the amount.

Open 二 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.