2.2 Indicating Quantity

When we indicate the quantity of something, we need to put a classifier between the number and the noun. In this book, we will use CL to indicate a classifier in English translations.

Number
Classifier
Noun
一
jat1
one
本
bun2
CL
書
syu1
book
one book
三
saam1
three
個
go3
CL
朋友
pang4 jau5
friend
three friends

To mean ‘several’, we can use the word 幾 gei2. 幾 gei2 usually refers to a quantity between 3 and 9 inclusive.

Number
Classifier
Noun
幾
gei2
several
本
bun2
CL
書
syu1
book
several books
幾
gei2
several
個
go3
CL
朋友
pang4 jau5
friend
several friends