In order to express "some" or "a few," you can use 一些 (yīxiē). To use it in this way, 一些 (yīxiē) is placed before the noun it modifies. 一些 (yīxiē) can modify the subject or the object.

Note: The pinyin for 一些 is written "yīxiē" but pronounced "yìxiē" due to a tone change rule.

Structure

Examples

妈妈去超市买了一些水果。 Māma qù chāoshì mǎi le yīxiē shuǐguǒ.Mom went to the supermarket and bought some fruit.
上个周末他买了一些衣服。 Shàng gè zhōumò tā mǎi le yīxiē yīfu.He bought some clothes last weekend.
我们很快会见到一些新同事。Wǒmen hěn kuài huì jiàndào yīxiē xīn tóngshì.We're going to meet some new co-workers very soon.
你饿不饿？这里有一些吃的。 Nǐ è bu è? Zhèlǐ yǒu yīxiē chīde.Are you hungry or not? There is some food here.
下课以后，学生们问了一些问题。 Xiàkè yǐhòu, xuéshengmen wèn le yīxiē wèntí.After class, the students asked some questions.
给我一些时间，好吗？ Gěi wǒ yīxiē shíjiān, hǎo ma?Give me some time, OK?
他给我带了一些书。 Tā gěi wǒ dài le yīxiē shū.He brought me some books.
你可以借我一些钱吗？Nǐ kěyǐ jiè wǒ yīxiē qián ma?Can you lend me some money?
你想在咖啡里放一些糖吗？ Nǐ xiǎng zài kāfēi lǐ fàng yīxiē táng ma?Do you want to put some sugar in your coffee?
我在中国的时候，去过一些很漂亮的地方。 Wǒ zài Zhōngguó de shíhou, qù guo yīxiē hěn piàoliang de dìfang.When I was in China, I went to some beautiful places.

Structure

Examples

Sources and further reading

Books