Expressing approximate quantity in Chinese
To express approximate quantities in Chinese we can use different words. Let's look at each of them.
The adverbs 大概, 大约, 差不多
You can express the approximate quantity by using these adverbs:
大概 
大约 or 约
差不多
We should put them before the numeral.
大约 or 约
差不多
We should put them before the numeral.Scheme
adverb of quantity
numeral
measure word
(noun)
Examples
我有大概5,000美元
I have about $5,000
wǒ yǒu dàgài wǔqiān měiyuán
约30厘米宽
Approximately 30 cm wide
yuē sānshí límĭ kuān
差不多十年
Almost ten years
chàbuduō shínián
我估计她大约40岁
I think she's about forty years old
wǒ gūjì tā dàyuē sìshí suì
With 约, we should put the preposition 在 before the word denoting the time.
before the word denoting the time.
Scheme
约
在
time
Examples
约在9点钟
At about 9 o’clock
yuē zài jiǔ diăn
The postpositions 前后, 左右, 上下
The words 左右 , 上下 , 前后 “approximately”, “about” should be put after the quantifier.
Quantifiers can be expressed by a numeral with a measure word; or by a numeral, a measure word and a noun.
, 上下 , 前后 “approximately”, “about” should be put after the quantifier.
Quantifiers can be expressed by a numeral with a measure word; or by a numeral, a measure word and a noun.Scheme
numeral
measure word
(noun)
前后/左右/上下
左右
左右 indicates an approximate quantity. It may be a little less or a little more than the stated number.
It is often used with measurements such as: time, age, distance, weight.
Examples
七点左右要开始
To start at about seven o'clock
qī diăn zuŏyòu yào kāishǐ
她15岁左右
She's about 15 years old
tā shíwǔ suì zuŏyòu
左右 can also indicate an approximate number. For example, the number of objects, number of people, number of actions.
Examples
10万个人左右
About 100,000 people
shíwàn ge rén zuŏyòu
Pay attention
We cannot use 左右 after verbs or at the end of sentences.
上下
上下 should be put after the numeral that is multiple of ten. It is used with such measurements as: age, weight and distance.
Examples
她四十岁上下
She's about 40 years old
tā sìshí suì shàngxià
五百公斤上下
Approximately 500 pounds
wŭ băi gōngjīn shàngxià
Pay attention
We cannot use 上下 when indicating time.
前后
We can only use 前后 for indicating time. It is used to indicate an approximate time, date, or action. It is not used with time intervals.
Examples
他昨天四点前后回家的
He came home around 4:00 yesterday
tā zuótiān sì diǎn qiánhòu huíjiā de
The particles 来, 把
来 can be used in several ways:
1) after a numeral and a measure word.
can be used in several ways:
1) after a numeral and a measure word.Scheme
numeral
measure word
来
(noun)
Examples
他一直在门口等你，等了差不多一个来小时
He has been waiting for you at the door for almost an hour
tā yìzhí zài ménkǒu děnɡ nǐ, děnɡ le chàbuduō yí ɡe lái xiǎoshí
那袋大米有七斤来重
That bag of rice weighs about seven kilograms
nà dài dàmǐ yǒu qī jīn lái zhònɡ
2) between a numeral and a measure word.
Scheme
numeral
来
measure word
(noun)
Pay attention
In this case, the numeral must be a multiple of ten.
Examples
这些书一共有六十来斤
These books weigh about 30 kilograms in total
With numbers like 百 , 千 , and 万 we should use the particle 把 .
, 千 , and 万 we should use the particle 把 .
Scheme
numeral
把
measure word
noun
Examples
有百把块钱就够了
About 100 yuan will be enough
yǒu bǎi bǎ kuàiqián jiù gòu le