十二三 (shí èr sān) — about twelve or thirteen (used for approximate age, quantity, etc.)
Definition
A colloquial approximate number meaning 'about twelve or thirteen'. Unlike 十几 (teens in general) or 二十多 (twenties-plus), it pins the range to the 12–13 band — common for ages and small quantities.
numeral
about twelve or thirteen (used for approximate age, quantity, etc.)
Examples
- 十二三。Nà ge nán hái kàn qǐ lái shí èr sān suì.That boy looks about twelve or thirteen years old.
- 十二三。Jiào shì lǐ zhǐ yǒu shí èr sān gè rén.There are only about twelve or thirteen people in the classroom.
- 十二三。Tā shí èr sān suì jiù kāi shǐ xué gāng qín le.She started learning piano when she was about twelve or thirteen.
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.