几多 (jǐ duō) — (dialectal) how many; (dialectal) how much

Definition

几多 (jǐ) is a dialectal question word, mainly southern Chinese, meaning 'how many' or 'how much'. In standard Mandarin, use 几个 / 几 for 'how many' and 多少 for 'how many / how much'.

pronoun
(dialectal) how many(dialectal) how much

Examples

  • ，几多？
    Qǐng wèn, zhè ge shì chǎng jǐ duō qián yì gōng jīn?
    Excuse me, how much per kilogram at this market?
  • 几多？
    Nǐ jiā fù jìn jǐ duō jiā chāo shì?
    How many supermarkets are near your home?
  • 几多？
    Jīn tiān jǐ duō wèi tóng xué méi lái shàng kè?
    How many classmates didn't come to class today?

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.

几jǐhow many
多duōhow much

几 asks how many and 多 asks how much, jointly expressing a dialectal question about quantity.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 幾; 几 is its simplified writing.

  • 𢆶𢆶𢆶silk threads; little things
  • 戍戍shùto guard against

The traditional form 幾 puts 𢆶 (silk threads; little things) and 戍 (to guard against) together to show watching over the fine details; the simplified 几 is a later abbreviation.

Open 几 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

多 originally showed two pieces of meat placed together; the repeated meat shape gives the sense of many.

Open 多 →

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