pron., num.
A low table (几) holding only a small countable number of items. Asks “how many?” for small numbers; several; a few. Picture a simple table (几) with a few things on it, asking “how many?”
几
Common Usage & Traps
- 几月几号 — what month and day (date)
- 几个人 — how many people / a few people
- 几点了 — what time is it
- 几岁 — how old (for a child)
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几多钱多少钱几 is for small counts; price questions use 多少.
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你几岁 (to an adult)你多大了 / 您多大年纪几岁 treats an adult like a child and can sound rude.
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几人几个人In daily speech, 几 needs a measure word like 个 before 人; bare 几人 sounds bookish.
Why does 几月几号 use 几 twice?
The first 几 asks the month; the second asks the day.
Chinese asks a date by filling two slots: month and day. The first 几 asks which month, and the second 几 asks which day. In full everyday speech, add 号 after the second 几. “问日期，几月几？” (To ask the date, say 'What month and what day?') ── [《问问题》](/read/asking-questions-daily-life#s2)
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking month | 几月？ | 多少月？ |
| Asking day | 几号？ | 多少号？ |
| Asking both | 几月几号？ | 几号几月？ |
When do you use 几 instead of 多少?
Use 几 for small counts; use 多少 for big numbers and prices.
几 expects a small number, usually under ten, and needs a measure word. 多少 works for any number and often drops the measure word. Prices use 多少, so 几多钱 fails.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Small group | 几个人？ | 几人？ |
| Big crowd | 多少人？ | 几个人？ |
| Price | 多少钱？ | 几多钱？ |
Can I ask a coworker 你几岁?
No. 几岁 is for kids; asking an adult 你几岁 sounds rude.
几岁 is the kid version of 'how old'. For adults, use 你多大了 or 您多大年纪. Asking a coworker 你几岁 can sound like you are talking to a child.
| Dimension | Natural | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Asking a small child | 你几岁了？ | 您几岁？ |
| Asking a peer | 你多大了？ | 你几岁？ |
| Asking an older person | 您多大年纪？ | 您几岁？ |
Appears in Stories 4 stories
Real context sentences across different daily scenarios and graded readings.
Before you read, try clapping the rhythm. This poem introduces the days of the week and a fun secret: Chinese has two names for Sunday, but no 'Week Seven'!
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你想知道星期 几 ，可以问他星期 几 。
This short, soothing piece is about missing someone on a rainy night. The sentences are simple and repeat often, so you can practice reading while feeling the warm emotion.
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我看着电脑，写下了 几 个字：小雨，我想你。
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我们 几 个月没有见了。
Meet Gao Youpeng, a friendly Beijing coworker who welcomes the narrator with local dishes and a simple language-exchange plan. This warm HSK 2 story is perfect for first readings about work and friendship.
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他说周六可以教我做 几 个北京菜。
Before you read, think about the questions you ask every day. This simple poem shows you how to ask age, price, time, and more in friendly Chinese.
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问日期，几月 几 ？
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问小孩儿，你 几 岁？
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