几 meaning and stroke order
How many; how much; several; a few
How to write 几, stroke by stroke
2 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
Meaning of 几
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- how many; how much
- several; a few
- small table
- (literary) almost
How 几 is built
Pictographic character. A small table; compare 丌.
How to remember 几
几 is a picture of a small low table: two legs standing on the ground with a flat top. Picture asking "how many" cups fit on that little table.
As jǐ, 几 asks "how many" when you expect a small number, usually under ten, and it needs a measure word after it. It can also mean "a few" in statements, as in 几天 (jǐtiān) several days. Example: 你有几个孩子？(Nǐ yǒu jǐ ge háizi?) How many children do you have?
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 几 with 九 (jiǔ, nine). In 九 the first stroke crosses through, while in 几 the two strokes stand apart like table legs. Also remember 几乎 (jīhū, almost) is read with first tone jī, not jǐ.
Common words with 几
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 几乎 | jīhū | almost; nearly; practically | HSK 4 |
| 几率 | jīlǜ | probability; odds | HSK 7-9 |
| 寥寥无几 | liáoliáo-wújǐ | (idiom) very few | HSK 7-9 |
| 几个 | jǐge | a few; several | |
| 几天 | jǐtiān | several days | |
| 几年 | jǐnián | a few years; several years; how many years? | |
| 几次 | jǐcì | several times | |
| 几点 | jǐdiǎn | what time?; when? | |
| 几岁 | jǐsuì | how old are you? (familiar, or to a child) | |
| 几时 | jǐshí | at what time?; when? | |
| 好几年 | hǎojǐnián | several years | |
| 几号 | jǐhào | (slang) heroin | |
| 几分 | jǐfēn | somewhat; a bit | |
| 好几 | hǎojǐ | several; quite a few |
几 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 几
Learning 几 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 几
How many strokes are in 几?
几 is written with 2 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 几 mean?
几 (jǐ) means how many; how much; several; a few. A common word with it is 几乎 (jīhū), meaning "almost; nearly; practically".
How do you pronounce 几?
几 is pronounced jǐ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the traditional form of 几?
The traditional form of 几 is 幾. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 几 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 几 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 几 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
What is the difference between 几 and 多少 for asking how many?
Use 几 when you expect a small number, roughly under ten, and always add a measure word, as in 几个人. Use 多少 (duōshao) for larger or unknown amounts, and the measure word is optional, as in 多少钱 (duōshao qián) how much money.
Can 几 mean "a few" instead of asking a question?
Yes. In a statement 几 means "a few" or "several," for example 我买了几本书 (Wǒ mǎi le jǐ běn shū) I bought a few books. It also appears after tens, as in 十几 (shíjǐ) a bit over ten.