atitarev Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:33 AM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:33 AM Hi, Good to be back I don't quite understand the grammar of this phrase: 这些中国人中有十来个学生。 Among these Chinese people there are ten students? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daan Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:44 AM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:44 AM I can't say I've seen this construction used before, but Numeral + 来个 seems to mean something like 'around X'. See also this: 一般来说十来个就是不足十个或刚好十个称为十来个,十多个就是比十个多,不包括十个.十来个应该是东北那一带的土话. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:54 AM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:54 AM Take a look at the MOE dictionary's entry of 來 (adj No 2). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atitarev Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:56 AM Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 11:56 AM Thank you It also seems regional, used in North-East of China as per your link. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted December 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 12:19 PM Why does it seem regional? How about the MOE entry? (in case of time-out, paste the word in the box and press go) 用於數詞或量詞之間，表約略的意思。如：「三十來歲」、「二十來斤」。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atitarev Posted December 5, 2011 at 12:27 PM Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 12:27 PM That's what the Chinese foreros said, OK, it's not regional, then. Thanks, again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:50 PM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 08:50 PM seems to mean something like 'around X' But only less than, never more than. And welcome back Atitarev Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atitarev Posted December 5, 2011 at 09:25 PM Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 09:25 PM Thank you, Imron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted December 5, 2011 at 09:37 PM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 09:37 PM I disagree with imron, especially the never. I am not sure if that is what is said in the Guifan dictionary, but personally I would interpret it as more than X. There are different interpretations like the ones below so I think it is best to say it means "around". http://www.holybear.net/?p=702 http://big5.gmw.cn/g2b/www.gmw.cn/content/2010-06/21/content_1156167.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:26 PM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:26 PM I disagree with imron, especially the never. I am not sure if that is what is said in the Guifan dictionary Fair enough. I mentioned that because previously I have been corrected by someone after using it to refer to a number more than X. For reference, the Guifan dictionary says: 用在数词或数量词组后面，表示概数，通常略小于那个数目。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:34 PM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:34 PM http://www.holybear.net/?p=702 Interestingly, if you look at the chart on that page, people from 河北 clearly seem think it's less than, which would explain things, as that is where I learnt most of my Chinese Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skylee Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:55 PM Report Share Posted December 5, 2011 at 10:55 PM Now look at how the people from other places think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexas Posted December 6, 2011 at 03:47 AM Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 03:47 AM According to "Chinese: A Comprehensive Grammar" a multiple of ten + 来 + 量词 designates an approximate number, so 十来天 = about ten days, around ten days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BertR Posted December 6, 2011 at 02:59 PM Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 02:59 PM This is the definition in 现代汉语词典： 用在‘十、百、千’等数词或数量词后面表示概数：十来天ㄧ五十来岁ㄧ三百来人ㄧ三斤来重ㄧ二里来地。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted December 6, 2011 at 03:09 PM Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 03:09 PM The ABC has it as over, for what that's worth Good to see you around, Atitarev. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted December 6, 2011 at 08:35 PM Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 08:35 PM The ABC has it as over, for what that's worth Obviously John DeFrancis didn't spend enough time in Hebei Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atitarev Posted December 6, 2011 at 10:52 PM Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 10:52 PM Roddy, feels good to be back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roddy Posted December 6, 2011 at 10:56 PM Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 10:56 PM 2,000 posts! Well done. 7 years, Atitarev, 7 years. . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atitarev Posted December 6, 2011 at 11:05 PM Author Report Share Posted December 6, 2011 at 11:05 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Syryanyang Posted December 7, 2011 at 12:17 AM Report Share Posted December 7, 2011 at 12:17 AM Strictly it means a couple of more than, but people use it inclusively as "around" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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