Approximation: 左右/大约/差不多/将近
Approximation words give a rough number. At HSK 4 the four main ones are 左右 (after the number), 大约 (before the number), 差不多 (either side, in speech) and 将近 (almost, just under the number).
In English
Chinese has four common ways to say "about" with a number, and the main difference is where the word sits. 左右 goes after the number (三十岁左右). 大约 and 将近 go before it (大约三十岁, 将近三十岁), but 将近 means "just under", while 大约 can be a little over or under.
差不多 is the casual one and can go before or after, and it also means "good enough" or "almost the same". Do not stack two of them, such as 大约…左右.
四种表示大概数量的方式，位置和语气各不相同。
| 词语 | 位置 | 语气 | 例句 |
|------|------|------|------|
| 左右 zuǒ yòu | 数词之后 | 中性 | 三十岁左右 |
| 大约 dà yuē | 数词之前 | 中性/正式 | 大约三十岁 |
| 差不多 chà bu duō | 前/后均可 | 口语/随意 | 差不多三十岁 / 三十岁差不多 |
| 将近 jiāng jìn | 数词之前 | 强调接近 | 将近三十岁 (almost 30, not quite) |
关键区别:
- 左右 → AFTER the number
- 将近 → emphasizes approaching a large round number from below (nearly but not yet)
- 差不多 → colloquial; also means 'adequate/good enough'
Worked examples
| Chinese | Pinyin | English | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 这家餐厅开了十年左右，每天都有很多客人来。 | Zhè jiā cān tīng kāi le shí nián zuǒ yòu, měi tiān dōu yǒu hěn duō kè rén lái. | This restaurant has been open for around 10 years and has many customers every day. | 左右 comes AFTER the number (十年左右 = around 10 years); cannot move before |
| 这个城市大约有三百万人口，是全省最大的城市。 | Zhè ge chéng shì dà yuē yǒu sān bǎi wàn rén kǒu, shì quán shěng zuì dà de chéng shì. | This city has approximately 3 million people and is the largest city in the province. | 大约 precedes the number (大约三百万); formal/statistical contexts |
| 他们谈了将近三个小时，把所有问题都讨论清楚了。 | Tā men tán le jiāng jìn sān ge xiǎo shí, bǎ suǒ yǒu wèn tí dōu tǎo lùn qīng chǔ le. | They talked for nearly three hours and discussed all the issues thoroughly. | 将近 = nearly/almost (approaching 3 hours but not quite reached); precedes the number |
Word by word
Each word in this pattern on its own: what it does here, the structure, three more examples, and the mistake to avoid.
左右 (zuǒyòu)
Means "about" and always comes right after the number or quantity.
Structure: number + measure word + 左右
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 这个行李箱重二十公斤左右。 | Zhè gè xíng li xiāng zhòng èr shí gōng jīn zuǒ yòu. | This suitcase weighs about twenty kilograms. |
| 我每天晚上十一点左右睡觉。 | Wǒ měi tiān wǎn shang shí yī diǎn zuǒ yòu shuì jiào. | I go to bed around eleven every night. |
| 他个子一米八左右。 | Tā gè zi yì mǐ bā zuǒ yòu. | He is about one metre eighty tall. |
Not: 左右二十个学生来了。 左右 goes after the number: 二十个学生左右.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 4, expressing numbers.
大约 (dàyuē)
Means "roughly" and comes before the number or the time word.
Structure: 大约 + number/time
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 大约再过十分钟，火车就到了。 | Dà yuē zài guò shí fēn zhōng, huǒ chē jiù dào le. | In about ten more minutes, the train will arrive. |
| 从我家到公司大约要四十分钟。 | Cóng wǒ jiā dào gōng sī dà yuē yào sì shí fēn zhōng. | It takes about forty minutes from my home to the office. |
| 他大约三十岁，看起来很年轻。 | Tā dà yuē sān shí suì, kàn qǐ lái hěn nián qīng. | He is about thirty, but looks young. |
Not: 他三十岁大约。 大约 goes before the number: 他大约三十岁.
差不多 (chàbuduō)
Means "about" or "nearly" in speech; it can sit before or after the number.
Structure: 差不多 + number, or number + 差不多
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我们差不多七点吃晚饭。 | Wǒ men chà bù duō qī diǎn chī wǎn fàn. | We usually eat dinner at about seven. |
| 他的房子和我的差不多大。 | Tā de fáng zi hé wǒ de chà bù duō dà. | His house is about the same size as mine. |
| 作业我差不多写完了。 | Zuò yè wǒ chà bù duō xiě wán le. | I have almost finished my homework. |
Not: 来了差不多二十个人左右。 差不多 and 左右 both mean "about". Use only one of them.
In the official HSK 3.0 grammar outline: level 3, adverbs (情态副词).
将近 (jiāngjìn)
Means "almost" and shows the amount is just under the number.
Structure: 将近 + number + measure word
| Chinese | Pinyin | English |
|---|---|---|
| 我在这儿住了将近五年。 | Wǒ zài zhèr zhù le jiāng jìn wǔ nián. | I have lived here for almost five years. |
| 这本书将近三百页。 | Zhè běn shū jiāng jìn sān bǎi yè. | This book is almost three hundred pages. |
| 参加比赛的有将近一千人。 | Cān jiā bǐ sài de yǒu jiāng jìn yì qiān rén. | Nearly one thousand people took part in the contest. |
Not: 我学了将近三年多。 将近 means just under and 多 means over, so they clash. Say 将近三年 or 三年多.
Compared side by side: 将近 vs 大约.
Questions about Approximation
What does 约数表达 (Approximation) mean in Chinese?
Approximation words give a rough number. At HSK 4 the four main ones are 左右 (after the number), 大约 (before the number), 差不多 (either side, in speech) and 将近 (almost, just under the number). It is an HSK 4 grammar point.
How do you use 约数表达 (Approximation) in a sentence?
这家餐厅开了十年左右，每天都有很多客人来。 — Zhè jiā cān tīng kāi le shí nián zuǒ yòu, měi tiān dōu yǒu hěn duō kè rén lái. — This restaurant has been open for around 10 years and has many customers every day. 左右 comes AFTER the number (十年左右 = around 10 years); cannot move before.
Where does 约数表达 (Approximation) come in the HSK sequence?
HSK 4, and none of its prerequisites are grammar points — nothing else on this reference has to come first, so you can start here.
What is the difference between 将近 and 大约?
将近 means the amount is just under the number: 将近十点 is a little before ten. 大约 does not say which side, so 大约十点 may be a little before or after.
Can I say 大约三十岁左右?
You will hear it, but it says "about" twice. Choose one: 大约三十岁 or 三十岁左右.
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