Approximate Numbers with Adverbs, Adjacent Numerals, and Postpositions in Chinese
概数表示法2
Mandarin can express an approximate quantity in several ways: 大概, 大约, or 几 may precede a number or quantity; adjacent numerals such as 三四 or 十五六 give a narrow range; and 左右 or 前后 may follow a completed quantity or time expression. These forms estimate rather than identify an exact value, and their placement is part of the construction.
Published August 15, 2026
Reviewed August 15, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
大概/大约/几 + Number; Adjacent Numerals; Quantity + 左右/前后
Read the structure
Mandarin can express an approximate quantity in several ways: 大概, 大约, or 几 may precede a number or quantity; adjacent numerals such as 三四 or 十五六 give a narrow range; and 左右 or 前后 may follow a completed quantity or time expression. These forms estimate rather than identify an exact value, and their placement is part of the construction. Keep the model 大概/大约/几 + Number; Adjacent Numerals; Quantity + 左右/前后 visible while you compare each sentence.
这个手机大概两千块。
This phone costs about two thousand yuan.
Choose the right context
Put 大概 or 大约 before an estimated number or quantity. Combine suitable adjacent numerals to state a small range. Place 左右 after a quantity and 前后 after an approximate time point or period.
我的中文老师大约三十岁。
My Chinese teacher is about thirty.
Respect the boundary
Do not insert aspect marking inside an approximation adverb and its number. Do not place 左右 between a numeral and its required unit. Do not assume every pair of adjacent numbers expresses approximation outside context.
这个手机大概了两千块。
(This phone approximately le two thousand yuan.)
Repair the pattern
Aspect marking splits the estimate: 大概 directly modifies the estimated quantity; 了 cannot occur between the adverb and number. 左右 splits the numeral from its unit: 左右 follows the complete age quantity 三十岁 rather than separating the number from its unit.
这个手机大概两千块。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
这个手机大概两千块。
This phone costs about two thousand yuan.
这个
大概/大约/几
This part occupies the 大概/大约/几 position in the model pattern.
手机
Number; Adjacent Numerals; Quantity
This part occupies the Number; Adjacent Numerals; Quantity position in the model pattern.
大概
左右/前后
This part occupies the 左右/前后 position in the model pattern.
两千块
大概/大约/几
This part occupies the 大概/大约/几 position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
这个手机大概两千块。
This phone costs about two thousand yuan.
我的中文老师大约三十岁。
My Chinese teacher is about thirty.
会议来了七八十个人。
About seventy or eighty people came to the meeting.
我们八点左右出发。
We will leave at around eight.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Put 大概 or 大约 before an estimated number or quantity.
- Combine suitable adjacent numerals to state a small range.
- Place 左右 after a quantity and 前后 after an approximate time point or period.
Do not use it when
- Do not insert aspect marking inside an approximation adverb and its number.
- Do not place 左右 between a numeral and its required unit.
- Do not assume every pair of adjacent numbers expresses approximation outside context.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
这个手机大概了两千块。
这个手机大概两千块。
Aspect marking splits the estimate
大概 directly modifies the estimated quantity; 了 cannot occur between the adverb and number.
他三十左右岁。
他三十岁左右。
左右 splits the numeral from its unit
左右 follows the complete age quantity 三十岁 rather than separating the number from its unit.
这个手机大概了两千块。
大概 directly modifies the estimated quantity; 了 cannot occur between the adverb and number.
他三十左右岁。
左右 follows the complete age quantity 三十岁 rather than separating the number from its unit.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 概数表示法2.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 概数表示法2. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Approximate Numbers with Adverbs, Adjacent Numerals, and Postpositions Questions
Do 三四 and 十五六 mean exact addition?
No. In this construction, adjacent numerals present a narrow approximate range, such as three or four and fifteen or sixteen. Context must support the quantity reading.
Are 左右 and 前后 interchangeable?
They overlap for some time expressions, but 前后 is especially tied to a time point or period. 左右 is broader with quantities such as age, clock time, and count.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: Appendix A, Level 3 item 【三74】, PDF p. 210 (printed p. 204)
Lists approximation with 大概大约几, adjacent numerals, and postposed 左右前后 at Level 3.
Official source高级汉语综合（上）
兰州大学国际文化交流学院 · Lanzhou University · 2017
Locator: Grammar note on approximate quantities, course PDF section covering adjacent numerals and 数词加来把多左右上下
University course material distinguishes adjacent-number ranges, postposed approximators, and 几 as major approximation strategies.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Continue learning
概数：数词＋来＋量词Approximate Numbers with 来
Continue from a quantity followed by 来 to the wider inventory of approximate-number strategies.
Learn first
二 / 两二 (èr) vs 两 (liǎng)
Review the distribution of 二 and 两 before combining numerals in approximate quantity expressions.
Compare
小数、分数、百分数和倍数Decimals, Fractions, Percentages, and Multiples
Contrast deliberately approximate quantities with exact decimal, fractional, percentage, and multiple expressions.
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数量短语Basic Quantity Phrases
Place approximate numerals inside the broader numeral-classifier-noun structure of Mandarin quantity phrases.
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Continue from a quantity followed by 来 to the wider inventory of approximate-number strategies.