Grammar and translation - ... 有十来个 ...

[atitarev]

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?

[Daan]

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.

[skylee]

Take a look at the MOE dictionary's entry of 來 (adj No 2).

[atitarev]

Thank you It also seems regional, used in North-East of China as per your link.

[skylee]

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」。

[atitarev]

That's what the Chinese foreros said, OK, it's not regional, then. Thanks, again.

[imron]

seems to mean something like 'around X'

But only less than, never more than.

And welcome back Atitarev

[atitarev]

Thank you, Imron.

[skylee]

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

[imron]

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。

[imron]

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

[skylee]

Now look at how the people from other places think.

[WestTexas]

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

[BertR]

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。

[roddy]

The ABC has it as over, for what that's worth

Good to see you around, Atitarev.

[imron]

The ABC has it as over, for what that's worth

Obviously John DeFrancis didn't spend enough time in Hebei

[atitarev]

Roddy, feels good to be back

[roddy]

2,000 posts! Well done. 7 years, Atitarev, 7 years. . .

[atitarev]

[Syryanyang]

Strictly it means a couple of more than, but people use it inclusively as "around"