数词+来 lái

数词+来（lái）means “about; approximately (with round numbers)”. 来 is inserted between a round number (ten, twenty, a hundred. Formation: 数词 + 来 + 量词

about; approximately (with round numbers)

HSK4

Formation

数词 + 来 + 量词

Explanation

来 is inserted between a round number (ten, twenty, a hundred...) and its measure word to give an approximate amount. It usually appears with multiples of ten or with 百/千. The real number is close to the one stated.

Examples

教室里有十来个学生。
jiàoshì lǐ yǒu shí lái gè xuésheng
There are about ten students in the classroom.
他今年二十来岁。
tā jīnnián èrshí lái suì
He is around twenty years old this year.

Note

来 goes before the measure word (十来个), unlike 多.

FAQ

数词+来 — what does it mean and how is it used?

about; approximately (with round numbers). 来 is inserted between a round number (ten, twenty, a hundred...) and its measure word to give an approximate amount. It usually appears with multiples of ten or with 百/千. The real number is close to the one stated.

数词+来 — how do you form it?

数词 + 来 + 量词

数词+来 — any usage notes?

来 goes before the measure word (十来个), unlike 多.

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