Chinlingo Chinese words: 几 VS 多少

[Do you know?]

Both "几" and "多少"can be used to inquire about the quantity. Is there any difference between them?

"几"和"多少"都可以用来询问数量，它们有什么不同呢？

[Definitions]

"几" (jǐ): used to inquire about an uncertain and small quantity, which is generally less than 10.

"多少" (duō shǎo): used to inquire about an unlimited quantity. 

几（jǐ ）：询问不定的数量，且数量不大，一般在十以内。

多少（duō shǎo）：询问数量时，数目不受限定。

[Uses]

1. "几" should be followed by a measure word, while "多少" doesn't have to.

    "几"必须带量词，"多少"可以不带。

√ 你们班有几个学生？(nǐ men bān yǒu jǐ ɡè xué shenɡ？)

√你们班有多少（个）学生？(nǐ men bān yǒu duō shǎo (ɡè) xué shenɡ？)

  How many students are there in your class?

2. "几" can be preceded by the interrogative pronoun "哪", while "多少" cannot.

    "几"前可以用疑问代词"哪"，"多少"不能这么用。

√ 哪几个人需要救生衣？（nǎ jǐ ɡè rén xū yào jiù shēnɡ yī）

  Which of you need the life jackets? 

X 哪多少人需要救生衣？

3. "几" can be used to indicate an approximate number, while "多少" cannot be used in this way. 

    "几"可以表示概数，"多少"没有这个用法。

√ 我想休息几天。(wǒ xiǎnɡ xiū xi jǐ tiān。)

I'd like to take a few days off. 

X 我想休息多少天。

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