幾 meaning and stroke order
Small table; how many; a few, some
How to write 幾, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 幾
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (literary) almost
- how many; how much
- several; a few
How 幾 is built
Pictographic character. A very small 幺 table 戍.
Radical: 幺 (one), shared by 6 characters on this site.
How to remember 幾
Picture two tiny 幺 (yāo, small) threads tucked inside 戍. The etymology hint calls it a very small table, so think of a little table where you count how many small things sit on it: 幾 (jǐ), how many.
幾 is the traditional form of 几. It asks "how many" when you expect a small number, and it can also mean "a few" in statements. Example: 你有幾個朋友？ (Nǐ yǒu jǐ ge péngyou?) How many friends do you have?
Common mistake: Learners often read every 幾 as jǐ, but in 幾乎 (jīhū, almost) and 幾率 (jīlǜ, probability) it is first tone jī. Also, 幾 asks about small numbers, so for large or unknown amounts like population use 多少 (duōshao) instead.
Common words with 幾
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 幾乎 | jīhū | almost; nearly; practically | HSK 4 |
| 幾率 | jīlǜ | probability; odds | HSK 7-9 |
| 寥寥無幾 | liáoliáo-wújǐ | (idiom) very few | HSK 7-9 |
| 幾個 | jǐge | a few; several | |
| 幾天 | jǐtiān | several days | |
| 幾年 | jǐnián | a few years; several years; how many years? | |
| 幾次 | jǐcì | several times | |
| 幾點 | jǐdiǎn | what time?; when? | |
| 幾歲 | jǐsuì | how old are you? (familiar, or to a child) | |
| 幾時 | jǐshí | at what time?; when? | |
| 好幾年 | hǎojǐnián | several years | |
| 幾號 | jǐhào | (slang) heroin | |
| 幾分 | jǐfēn | somewhat; a bit | |
| 好幾 | hǎojǐ | several; quite a few |
Characters that contain 幾
Learning 幾 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 幾
How many strokes are in 幾?
幾 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 幾 mean?
幾 (jǐ) means small table; how many; a few, some. A common word with it is 几乎 (jīhū), meaning "almost; nearly; practically".
How do you pronounce 幾?
幾 is pronounced jǐ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 幾?
The radical of 幾 is 幺, which carries the idea of "one". Dictionaries list 幾 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 幾?
幾 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 几, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 幾 and 多少 when asking how many?
幾 suggests you expect a small number, usually under ten, and it needs a measure word, as in 幾個 (jǐ ge). 多少 (duōshao) works for any amount and can drop the measure word.
Can 幾 mean "a few" instead of a question?
Yes. In a statement, 幾 means several or a few, as in 我去過幾次 (Wǒ qù guo jǐ cì), I have been there a few times. Context and intonation tell you whether it is a question.