Definition
十七八 is a numerical approximation pattern meaning 'around seventeen or eighteen'. It is most commonly used for age (十七八岁 'about seventeen or eighteen years old'), but can also indicate approximate quantity with appropriate measure words. This is not a measure word itself; the row's POS label is incorrect.
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around seventeen or eighteen (used for age or approximate number, typically of people)
Examples
- 十七八。Tā jīnnián shí qī bā suì le.She is around seventeen or eighteen years old this year.
- 十七八。Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu shí qī bā ge xiǎohuǒzi.There are about seventeen or eighteen young men in the classroom.
- 十七八。Tā shí qī bā nián qián jiù chūguó le.He went abroad about seventeen or eighteen years ago.
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