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Chinese quantifiers (数量, shù liàng) are vast and sometimes confusing. Here are some commonly used Mandarin Chinese quantifiers that can be helpful in a range of situations.

1. 很多 (hěn duō)

In this word, 很 (hěn) means "very", and 多 (duō) means "many". Despite the fact that 多 (duō) already has the meaning of "many", what you need to remember regarding the use of this word is that 很 (hěn) has to be included every time you want to express "many + noun" in Chinese.

Examples:

我有很多中国朋友。

wǒ yǒu hěn duō zhōng guó péng you

I have many Chinese friends.

2. 大量 (dà liàng)

If you analyze this phrase character by character, you'll find out that the meaning of this word is "a large amount" or "a large number". The second character "量 (liàng)" can refer to either quantity (数量 shù liàng) or volume (容量 róng liàng).

Examples:

他有大量现金。

tā yǒu dà liàng xiàn jīn

He has a large amount of cash.

Vocabulary:

现金 (xiàn jīn): cash

3. 不少 (bù shǎo)

This word is actually a synonym of 很多 (hěn duō), which also means "many" or "quite a few". The logic behind this word is that its original meaning is "not only a few", in which "not" is "不 bù", and the equivalent of "only a few" in Chinese is "少 shǎo".

Examples:

上海有不少法国餐厅。

shàng hǎi yǒu bù shǎo fǎ guó cān tīng

There are quite a few French restaurants in Shanghai.

4. 很少 (hěn shǎo)

As 很 (hěn) means "very", it's easy to deduce that the meaning of this phrase is "scarce".

Examples:

汤姆的工作经验很少。

tāng mǔ de gōng zuò jīng yàn hěn shǎo

Tom only has a little work experience.

Vocabulary:

工作 (gōng zuò): work, job

经验 (jīng yàn): experience

5. 一些 (yī xiē)

一些 (yī xiē) means "some", and it is commonly used in daily life. The phrase can be used to describe both countable and uncountable nouns.

Examples:

我有一些中文书。

wǒ yǒu yī xiē zhōng wén shū

I have some Chinese books.

我钓到一些鱼。

wǒ diào dào yī xiē yú

I caught some fish.

6. 一点儿 (yī diǎn er)

一点儿 (yī diǎn er) means "a little", and it is usually followed by an uncountable noun. Instead of 一点儿 (yī diǎn er), "有点儿 (yǒu diǎn er)" should be used if you would like to express "a little + adjective".

Examples:

我会说一点儿中文。

wǒ huì shuō yī diǎn er zhōng wén

I can speak a little Chinese.

牛肉有一点儿辣。

niú ròu yǒu yī diǎn er là

The beef is a bit spicy.

7. 几 (jǐ) + measure word

If you have learned some Chinese, you must know that 几 (jǐ) means "how many", and it is often used to ask a question. However, 几 (jǐ) can also mean "several" if it is used in a positive statement. Here are two examples to help you better understand the difference.

Examples:

你要几杯茶?

nǐ yào jǐ bēi chá?

How many cups of tea would you like?

我有几个问题。

wǒ yǒu jǐ gè wèn tí

I have several questions.

Vocabulary:

问题 (wèn tí): question, problem