Definition
十二三 is a numeral expression meaning 'about twelve or thirteen' — it's used to give an approximate number, most commonly with age (十二三岁) or quantity (十二三个人). The POS in the source is listed as 'm' (measure word), but this is actually a numeral compound, not a classifier. Treat it as a fixed phrase for approximation.
m
about twelve or thirteen (used for approximate age, quantity, etc.)
Examples
- 十二三。Nàge nánhái kàn qǐlái shí èr sān suì.That boy looks about twelve or thirteen years old.
- 十二三。Jiàoshì lǐ zhǐyǒu shí èr sān ge rén.There are only about twelve or thirteen people in the classroom.
- 十二三。Tā shí èr sān suì jiù kāishǐ xué gāngqín le.She started learning piano when she was about twelve or thirteen.
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