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<p><em>How big? How busy? How cold?</em> Ask questions like these
regarding the degree of an adjective with 多 (duō). This is just one
of the many uses of this word.</p>
<h2 id="structure">Structure</h2>
<p>多 (duō) is often used to ask about the degree or extent of
something.</p>
<div class="jiegou">
<p>Subj. + 多 + Adj. ?</p>
</div>
<p>This is an easy way to ask "How [adjective] is [subject]?"</p>
<h2 id="examples">Examples</h2>
<div class="liju">
<ul>
<li>她 <em>多</em> 高？<span class="pinyin">Tā <em>duō</em>
gāo?</span><span class="trans">How tall is she?</span></li>
<li>你家 <em>多</em> 大？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā <em>duō</em>
dà?</span><span class="trans">How large is your house?</span></li>
<li>你 的 孩子 <em>多</em> 大？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ de háizi
<em>duō</em> dà?</span><span class="trans">How old is your
child?</span></li>
<li>黄河 <em>多</em> 长？<span class="pinyin">Huánghé <em>duō</em>
cháng?</span><span class="trans">How long is the Yellow
River?</span></li>
<li>你 家 离 这儿 <em>多</em> 远？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ jiā lí zhèr
<em>duō</em> yuǎn?</span><span class="trans">How far is your house
away from here?</span></li>
<li>你 要 在 美国 待 <em>多</em> 久？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ yào zài Měiguó
dāi <em>duō</em> jiǔ?</span> <span class="trans">How long are you
going to stay in the USA?</span></li>
<li>这些 东西 <em>多</em> 重？<span class="pinyin">Zhèxiē dōngxi
<em>duō</em> zhòng?</span><span class="trans">How heavy are these
things?</span></li>
<li>你 知道 我们 现在 <em>多</em> 胖 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào wǒmen
xiànzài <em>duō</em> pàng ma?</span><span class="trans">Do you know
how fat we are now?</span></li>
<li>你 知道 这里 的 冬天 <em>多</em> 冷 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào
zhèlǐ de dōngtiān <em>duō</em> lěng ma?</span> <span class=
"trans">Do you know how cold it is here in winter?</span></li>
<li>你 知道 上海 的 房子 <em>多</em> 贵 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ zhīdào
Shànghǎi de fángzi <em>duō</em> guì ma?</span><span class=
"trans">Do you know how expensive housing is in
Shanghai?</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<p>大 (dà) and 小 (xiǎo) can also be used to describe ages. The
question phrase 多大 (duō dà) is often used to ask "how old."
However, it is an informal way to ask, usually reserved for peers,
close friends, or children. The phrase 几岁 (jǐ suì) is most often
used for children young enough to display their ages on one hand.
Adults do not normally directly ask each other's ages in a formal
setting.</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Doing_something_more_with_&quot;duo&quot;" title=
"wikilink">Doing something more with "duo"</a></li>
<li><a href="Intensifying_with_&quot;duo&quot;" title=
"wikilink">Intensifying with "duo"</a></li>
</ul>
<h2 id="sources-and-further-reading">Sources and further
reading</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition" title=
"wikilink">Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition</a> (pp.
135-7) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0415372615">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed)" title=
"wikilink">Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)</a> (pp.
233) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=217145&amp;creative=399369&amp;creativeASIN=0887276385">
→buy</a></li>
<li><a href="Modern_Mandarin_Chinese_Grammar:_A_Practical_Guide"
title="wikilink">Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical
Guide</a> (pp. 207-210, 301) <a href=
"http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415700108?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=allset-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=0415700108">
→buy</a></li>
</ul>
<p><a href="Category:A2_grammar_points" title=
"wikilink">Category:A2 grammar points</a></p>
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