几 jǐ

“how much; how many; several”

numeral, adverbHSK 1 · 2021 list level 1Traditional 幾

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

几 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 85: 几 jǐ — Level 1; official annotation 1 (代、数). PDF page 82

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 几

几 means "how many" and is used in questions about a small number. It usually comes before a measure word and then a noun, as in 几个朋友. Use it for everyday questions such as asking how many people or things someone has.

例句Example sentences

你有几个哥哥？nǐ yǒu jǐ gè gē ge?How many older brothers do you have?
我们班有几个学生？wǒ men bān yǒu jǐ gè xué sheng?How many students are in our class?
你家有几口人？nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ kǒu rén?How many people are in your family?

常见错误Common mistakes

✗你有几哥哥？

✓你有几个哥哥？

几 must be followed by a measure word before a noun in this question pattern.

易混词Easily confused

几vs多少

多少 also means "how many," but it can ask about any number and often does not need a measure word; 几 usually asks about small numbers and needs a measure word.

深度指南Grammar & comparison guides

多少 vs 几多少 (duōshao) vs 几 (jǐ): asking "how many" in ChineseHSK 1–2

义项All meanings

jī: small table
jī: almost
jǐ: how much; how many; several; a few