3 · 40 words

Quantities and measures

Units of length, weight and volume, fractions, per cent and the words for more and less.

Units behave like measure words: they stand between the number and the noun, 两(liǎng)斤(jīn)苹果(píngguǒ), two jin of apples. Fractions and percentages are said whole first, part second: 三(sān)分之(fēnzhī)一(yī) is "of three parts, one", a third, and 百分之(bǎifēnzhī)十(shí) is ten per cent. To give a measurement, put the adjective after it: 五(wǔ)米(mǐ)高(gāo), five metres high.

The words

Verb (8)

算(suàn)to calculate; to work outVerb3

你(nǐ)帮(bāng)我(wǒ)算(suàn)一下(yíxià)一共(yígòng)多少(duōshao)钱(qián)。Could you work out for me how much it comes to altogether?

乘以(chéngyǐ)multiplied byVerb3

三(sān)乘以(chéngyǐ)四(sì)等于(děngyú)十二(shí'èr)。Three times four is twelve.

除以(chúyǐ)divided byVerb3

十(shí)除以(chúyǐ)二(èr)等于(děngyú)五(wǔ)。Ten divided by two is five.

等于(děngyú)to equal; to be the same asVerb3

一(yì)公斤(gōngjīn)等于(děngyú)两(liǎng)斤(jīn)。One kilogram equals two jin.

剩下(shèngxia)to be left over; to remainVerb3

蛋糕(dàngāo)只(zhǐ)剩下(shèngxia)一(yì)小(xiǎo)块(kuài)了(le)。There is only one small piece of cake left.

增加(zēngjiā)to increase; to addVerb3

这个(zhège)月(yuè)的(de)工作(gōngzuò)增加(zēngjiā)了(le)不少(bùshǎo)。There has been quite a lot more work this month.

减少(jiǎnshǎo)to decrease; to reduceVerb3

为了(wèile)健康(jiànkāng)，他(tā)减少(jiǎnshǎo)了(le)喝(hē)酒(jiǔ)的(de)次数(cìshù)。For the sake of his health he drinks less often.

超过(chāoguò)to exceed; to be more thanVerb3

今天(jīntiān)的(de)气温(qìwēn)超过(chāoguò)了(le)三十五(sānshíwǔ)度(dù)。Today the temperature went above thirty-five degrees.

Adverb (3)

总共(zǒnggòng)altogether; in allAdverb3

我们(wǒmen)班(bān)总共(zǒnggòng)有(yǒu)二十(èrshí)个(ge)学生(xuésheng)。There are twenty pupils in our class altogether.

Means the same as 一共(yígòng).

大约(dàyuē)about; approximatelyAdverb3

从(cóng)这儿(zhèr)到(dào)车站(chēzhàn)大约(dàyuē)要(yào)走(zǒu)二十(èrshí)分钟(fēnzhōng)。It is about a twenty-minute walk from here to the station.

将近(jiāngjìn)nearly; close toAdverb3

他(tā)在(zài)北京(Běijīng)住(zhù)了(le)将近(jiāngjìn)十(shí)年(nián)。He lived in Beijing for nearly ten years.

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Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.