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个把 (gè bǎ) — (colloquial) one or two, a few (small approximate quantity)

Definition

个把 (gè bǎ) is an indefinite measure phrase meaning 'one or two / a few' — used for small approximate quantities, always followed by a measure word + noun (个把人, 个把星期).

classifier
(colloquial) one or twoa few (small approximate quantity)

Examples

  • 个把，。
    Zài děng gè bǎ xīng qī, tā jiù néng huí lái le.
    Wait another week or two, and he'll be able to come back.
  • 个把，。
    Duō gè bǎ rén yě méi guān xi, cài gòu le.
    One or two more people won't matter; there's enough food.
  • 个把，。
    Tā jiè le gè bǎ qián, hěn kuài jiù hái le.
    He borrowed a little money and paid it back quickly.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

个gèone
把bǎapproximate

「个」 counts one item, and 「把」 gives a loose sense of about one or two.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 個; 个 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rénperson
Sound part声符shēngfú
固
固gù個ge
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 个, the form 個 pairs 亻 (person) with 固 as a sound part.

Open 个 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
巴
巴bā把bǎ
Same sound today

把 combines 扌, a hand, with 巴 for its sound.

Open 把 →
Appears in
Quantity & Amount

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