Approximate number with the words “more” and “less”
There are several words for expressing “more” and “less” in Chinese. Their usage is also different. Let's look at all of them.
Words that come before a numeral
We should put the following words before the numeral:
1) 多于 
Examples
多于9万雇员
More than 90,000 employees
duōyú wàn gùyuán
2) 少于
Examples
全年降雨量少于600毫米
The annual rainfall is less than 600 mm
quánnián jiàng yŭ liàng shăoyú liùbăi háomĭ
3) 近 expresses an approximate number and emphasize that the quantity is slightly less than the number specified.
expresses an approximate number and emphasize that the quantity is slightly less than the number specified.Examples
近五十个人
Nearly 50 people
jìn wǔshí ge rén
The words “minimum” and “maximum” also should be used before the numerals.
Expressing “minimum”: 至少 and 最少 .
and 最少 .Examples
至少三次
At least three times
zhìshăo sān cì
最少3个月
A minimum of three months
zuìshǎo sān ge yuè
Expressing “maximum”: 至多 and 最多 .
and 最多 .
Examples
至多十个年
10 years at most
zhìduō shí ge
最多一年
A maximum of one year
zuìduō yì nián
Words that come after a numeral
We should put the following words after the numeral and the measure word.
1) 以上
Examples
90公里以上
Over 90 kilometers
jiŭshí gōnglĭ yĭshàng
2) 以下
Examples
他六岁以下
He is under six years old
tā liù suì yĭxià
The word 多 can have two positions in a sentence:
The first possibility is between a measure word and a numeral. The number must be round, which means it is a multiple of 10.
Then 多 means that the number is larger within a range.
can have two positions in a sentence:
The first possibility is between a measure word and a numeral. The number must be round, which means it is a multiple of 10.
Then 多 means that the number is larger within a range.Scheme
numeral
多
measure word
noun
For example, 30多 translates as “more than 30”. It indicates a number between 31 and 39.
1000多 translates as “more than 1000”. However, it indicates a number between 1000 and 1999.
Examples
二十多封信
More than 20 letters (21-29)
èrshí duō fēng xìn
五百多个人
More than 500 people (501-599)
wǔbǎi duō ge rén
The second possibility is after the numeral and the measure word. The numeral can be any positive integer number.
In this case, 多 indicates that the number is greater than 0.1-0.9 units.
Scheme
numeral
measure word
多
noun
For example, 1个多 translates to “more than one”. It indicates a number between 1.1 and 1.9.
Examples
六个多小时
More than six hours (more than six, but less than 7)
liù ge duō xiǎoshí
九年多
More than nine years (more than nine, but less than 19)
jiǔ nián duō