Approximating with sequential numbers
IntroducedAn estimate differs from a sum
- You did not count the visitors exactly but saw roughly five or six.
- come来(completed / change)了five or six五六(measure word)个people人。 — five or six五六 estimates about five or six people.
You did not count the visitors exactly but saw roughly five or six. What does 来了五六个人。 communicate?
五六 estimates about five or six people. Adjacent-number estimates are not addition: 五六 is not eleven. The common estimate 两三个 uses 两. Learn established forms instead of concatenating any pair of numerals.
Build the form
- The pattern in this lesson is Approximating with sequential numbers. Locate it in the original interlinear examples below.
- Keep the words in their demonstrated positions; the pattern must fit the intended situation as well as the sentence form.
come来了five or six五六(measure word)个people人。
Using the lesson pattern in this demonstrated example: Five or six people came: 来了 ____ 个人。
Two consecutive numbers = an estimate: 五六个 = five or six.
Read examples in context
here这儿have有ten-something十几(measure word)本book书。
- In the opening example, come来(completed / change)了five or six五六(measure word)个people人。: five or six五六 estimates about five or six people.
- Explain who acts, what is described and which time or group is relevant before choosing an English paraphrase.
Which gives an approximate amount?
Consecutive numbers (两三, 五六) estimate; a single number is exact.
Build: “Five or six people came.”
Verb + Number-Number + Measure + Noun: 来了 + 五六个 + 人.
Know the boundary
- Adjacent-number estimates are not addition: five or six五六 is not eleven.
- The common estimate 两三(measure word)个 uses two两. Learn established forms instead of concatenating any pair of numerals.
十几 means exactly ten.
十几 = ten-something (11–19), an estimate.
In the opening situation: 五六 estimates about five or six people.
Adjacent-number estimates are not addition: 五六 is not eleven. The common estimate 两三个 uses 两. Learn established forms instead of concatenating any pair of numerals. 五六 estimates about five or six people.
Use the distinction
- five or six五六 estimates about five or six people.
- Adjacent-number estimates are not addition: five or six五六 is not eleven. The common estimate 两三(measure word)个 uses two两. Learn established forms instead of concatenating any pair of numerals.
Read the full reference: HSK 3 grammar — Numbers.
You did not count the visitors exactly but saw roughly five or six. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.