47.2 Approximate Numbers II

In Grammar and Vocabulary 13.3, we learned to use the following words to indicate an approximate number.

In this lesson, we will learn two more similar words.

We can add the adverb 大概 daai6 koi3 (‘about’) before a number to indicate an approximate number.

We can also add the adjective 咁上下 gam3 soeng6 haa2 (‘about’, literally ‘this + up + down’) after a number to indicate an approximate number. Notice that 下 haa2 in 咁上下 gam3 soeng6 haa2 is pronounced with the high rising tone, instead of the low level tone that usually appears in other words (e.g., 下 haa6 in 下邊 haa6 bin6).

We can put 大約 daai6 joek3 or 大概 daai6 koi3 before the number and 到 dou2, 左右 zo2 jau2 or 咁上下 gam3 soeng6 haa2 after the number at the same time.

We can use the verb 要 jiu3 (‘to need’) to indicate how long an action approximately takes to complete.

We can also add the verb 諗 nam2 (‘to think’) or 估 gu2 (‘to guess’) to indicate that we are making a guess.