Definition
十三四 is a colloquial approximate number structure meaning 'thirteen or fourteen' or 'around thirteen or fourteen'. It is most commonly used to estimate age or quantity, where exactness isn't needed. The pattern '十X十Y' (like 十三四) is a fixed way to express a range between two adjacent numbers in the teens. You can use it with 岁 (years old) for age, or with measure words for approximate counts.
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thirteen or fourteenaround thirteen or fourteen (approximate number)
Examples
- 十三四。Nà ge nánhái kàn qǐlai shí sān sì suì de yàngzi.That boy looks about thirteen or fourteen years old.
- 十三四，。Wǒ mǎi le shí sān sì ge píngguǒ, gòu chī liǎng tiān le.I bought thirteen or fourteen apples, enough to eat for two days.
- 十三四。Bān lǐ shí sān sì suì de xuéshēng zuì duō.Most students in the class are around thirteen or fourteen years old.
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