43.4 The Question Word 幾多 gei2 do1 (‘how many, how much’) IV (Uncountable Nouns)

In Grammar and Vocabulary 11.6, we learned that the question word 幾多 gei2 do1 is similar to how many or how much in English. We also learned that if the noun is countable, we often add a classifier between 幾多 gei2 do1 and the noun. In Grammar and Vocabulary 28.8 and 42.8, we learned that we can also put a container classifier (e.g., 碗 wun2 ‘bowl’) or a measurement unit classifier (e.g., 斤 gan1 ‘catty’) between 幾多 gei2 do1 and the noun. This is especially useful when the noun is uncountable.

When the noun is uncountable, we can also put 幾多 gei2 do1 right before the noun without adding a classifier in between. We do so especially when we are not sure how the listener will indicate the quantity or we want to give the listener flexibility.

We usually omit the noun and simply say 幾多 gei2 do1 if it is obvious in the context.