Keywords: hǎo jǐ, haoji, 好几, how to use 好几, meaning of 好几, 好几 vs 几, several in Chinese, quite a few in Chinese, Chinese grammar for quantities, Chinese number words, HSK 3 grammar
Summary: Learn how to use the common Chinese term 好几 (hǎo jǐ), which means “several” or “quite a few.” This page breaks down its meaning, grammar structure (好几 + Measure Word + Noun), and cultural context. Discover how adding “好 (hǎo)” intensifies “几 (jǐ)” to express a quantity that is more than expected, and master its usage with practical examples to sound more natural in daily conversation.
Core Meaning
Pinyin (with tone marks): hǎo jǐ
Part of Speech: Determinative Phrase (used like a number)
HSK Level: HSK 3
Concise Definition: An indefinite number meaning “several,” “quite a few,” or “a good number of.”
In a Nutshell:好几 (hǎo jǐ) is used to describe a quantity that is more than just two or three, but not a huge amount. Think of it as “more than a few.” The character 好 (hǎo) doesn't mean “good” here; instead, it acts as an intensifier, similar to “quite” or “a good” in English phrases like “a good while” or “a good few.” It's a very common, informal way to emphasize that a small number is still significant or more than anticipated.
Character Breakdown
好 (hǎo): While its primary meaning is “good” or “well,” in this context, 好 (hǎo) functions as an adverb of degree. It intensifies the word that follows, meaning “quite,” “very,” or “a good deal of.”
几 (jǐ): This character has two main uses. In questions, it means “how many?” (e.g., 你几岁了? - Nǐ jǐ suì le?). In statements, it indicates an indefinite small number, usually under ten, translating to “a few” or “some.”
When combined, 好几 (hǎo jǐ) takes the “a few” meaning of 几 (jǐ) and strengthens it with 好 (hǎo), creating the more emphatic “quite a few.” It's the difference between seeing “a few” people and “quite a few” people.
Cultural Context and Significance
The Art of Approximation: In daily Chinese conversation, speakers often favor conveying a general sense over providing a precise number, especially when the exact count is unimportant. 好几 (hǎo jǐ) is a perfect tool for this conversational style. It's less rigid than saying “seven” or “eight” but more specific and emphatic than just saying “some.”
Comparing to English: The feeling of 好几 (hǎo jǐ) is very similar to the English informal phrase “a good few.” If you say, “I waited for a few hours,” it's a neutral statement. If you say, “I waited for a good few hours,” you are emphasizing the length and perhaps your slight impatience. 好几 (hǎo jǐ) carries that same emphatic, slightly-more-than-expected feeling. It reflects a cultural preference for conveying sentiment and impression along with factual information.
Practical Usage in Modern China
The Golden Rule: The most important rule for using 好几 (hǎo jǐ) is its structure:
好几 + Measure Word + Noun
You must include a measure word. Simply saying “hǎo jǐ shū” (好几书) is incorrect. You must say “hǎo jǐ běn shū” (好几本书).
Formality:好几 (hǎo jǐ) is highly conversational and informal. You would use it when talking with friends, family, or colleagues, but you would avoid it in formal written reports, academic papers, or official announcements where precision is required.
Connotation: The connotation is neutral but often implies that the quantity is notable or more than one might casually assume. For example, if someone says they have 好几个 siblings, it implies a larger-than-average family.
Example Sentences
Example 1:
桌子上放着好几本书。
Pinyin: Zhuōzi shàng fàngzhe hǎo jǐ běn shū.
English: There are several books on the table.
Analysis: A straightforward example showing the core structure: 好几 (hǎo jǐ) + Measure Word (本 běn) + Noun (书 shū). This implies not just two or three books, but a small pile.
English: This piece of clothing is available in quite a few colors.
Analysis: The measure word is 种 (zhǒng), for “types” or “kinds.” It tells the customer they have a good amount of choice.
Nuances and Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Forgetting the Measure Word. This is the most common error. English speakers might translate “several books” directly.
Incorrect: 我读了好几书。 (Wǒ dúle hǎo jǐ shū.)
Correct: 我读了好几本书。 (Wǒ dúle hǎo jǐ běn shū.)
Reason: In Chinese, a number (or a number-like phrase like 好几) almost always requires a measure word before the noun.
Mistake 2: Confusing `好几` (hǎo jǐ) with `几` (jǐ). While both refer to a small, indefinite number, 好几 (hǎo jǐ) is more emphatic.
`几` (jǐ): “A few” (e.g., 2-4). 我只有几个朋友。 (Wǒ zhǐyǒu jǐ ge péngyǒu.) - I only have a few friends. (A simple statement of fact).
`好几` (hǎo jǐ): “Quite a few” (e.g., 5-9). 他有好几个朋友。 (Tā yǒu hǎo jǐ ge péngyǒu.) - He has quite a few friends. (Implies a notable, social quantity).
Mistake 3: Using it for Large Numbers.好几 (hǎo jǐ) refers to a quantity that is usually less than ten. You cannot use it for numbers like 20, 30, or 100.
Incorrect: 班里有好几个学生。 (When there are 30 students).
Correct: 班里有几十个学生。 (Bān li yǒu jǐ shí ge xuéshēng.) - There are dozens of students in the class.
Related Terms and Concepts
几 (jǐ) - The base word, meaning “a few” in statements or “how many” in questions. 好几 is the intensified form of “a few.”
一些 (yīxiē) - A general term for “some” or “a few.” It's more neutral and less emphatic than 好几.
不少 (bùshǎo) - Literally “not few.” It's a close synonym for “quite a few” or “a good deal of” and can sometimes imply an even larger quantity than 好几.
许多 (xǔduō) - Means “many” or “a lot of.” This indicates a significantly larger quantity than 好几.
几个 (jǐ ge) - “A few,” using the most common measure word 个 (ge). It's the standard, non-emphatic version of 好几个 (hǎo jǐ ge).
几十 (jǐ shí) - “Dozens,” “several tens.” Used for indefinite numbers roughly between 20 and 90.