几 (jǐ) vs 多少 (duōshao) - How Many

Chinese grammar loves categories. For numbers, we categorize by size and expectation. 几 is your "small number" specialist. We usually use it when we expect the answer to be small. Usually, that means between 1 and 10. Think of things you can count on your fingers. On the other hand, 多少 is the "all-purpose" question word. It handles any amount from zero to infinity. It doesn't care if the answer is five or five million. If you have no idea what the answer might be, 多少 is your safest bet. It's the flexible friend of the Chinese language.

1. 1Using these words is quite simple once you know the steps:
2. 2Identify the noun you are asking about (e.g., books, people, money).
3. 3Estimate the quantity you expect to hear back.
4. 4For small amounts (<10), use the pattern: 几 + [Measure Word] + [Noun].
5. 5For any amount, use the pattern: 多少 + ([Measure Word]) + [Noun].
6. 6Remember: the measure word is mandatory for 几 but optional for 多少.
7. 7Place the question word exactly where the number would go in the answer. Chinese questions often follow the same word order as the statement.

Real-world scenarios are where these words shine. Let's look at some common situations:

• Ordering food: If you want a few beers, ask 你要几瓶啤酒？. If you are ordering for a huge wedding banquet, you might ask 我们要多少菜？.
• Family and Friends: Asking about siblings? Use 几个. Most people don't have twenty sisters! 你有几个姐姐？ is the standard way to ask.
• Time and Dates: This is a special rule. For hours, days, and months, we almost always use 几. 现在几点？ (What time is it?) or 今天星期几？ (What day of the week is it?).
• Prices: When asking how much something costs, always use 多少. 这个多少钱？ is the phrase you'll use most at the market. Using 几 here would sound very strange, like you're asking for a single unit of a tiny currency.
• Phone Numbers and IDs: Even though these aren't "quantities," they are long strings of numbers. We always use 多少 for these. 你的电话号码是多少？.

Avoid using 几 if you know the answer is definitely a large number. For example, don't ask how many people live in Shanghai using 几. That would be like asking "Are there three people in Shanghai?" It sounds a bit silly. Also, never skip the measure word when using 几. Saying 几书 instead of 几本书 is a classic beginner mistake that will make a native speaker's ears twitch. Conversely, don't use 多少 for the time of day. Asking 现在多少点？ makes you sound like a confused time traveler from a movie.

One of the biggest trip-ups is the measure word. You must use a measure word with 几. Think of them as inseparable best friends. Another mistake is using 几 for money. Even if something only costs two yuan, we still ask 多少钱. It’s just the social convention. Lastly, learners often forget that 多少 can be used without a measure word. You can say 多少个学生 or just 多少学生. Both are fine! If you're feeling lazy, 多少 is your best friend because it requires less work with measure words.

Think of 几 as "how many (a few)" and 多少 as "how many/much (any amount)." 几 is intimate and specific. It implies you have a rough idea of the scale. 多少 is open-ended and neutral. If you ask a friend 你有几个孩子？, it's a normal, friendly question. If you ask 你有多少孩子？, it almost sounds like you're expecting them to have a dozen kids running around! It's a subtle difference, but it changes the "vibe" of the conversation.