…上下
HSK 6- Measure words
Structure (结构 jiégòu)
Meaning (意思 yìsi)
Used after a number to indicate approximation, meaning "about, approximately, more or less".
Explanation (解释 jiěshì)
上下 is placed directly after a number to indicate an approximate range around that figure (slightly more or slightly less). It is very similar to 左右 and is commonly used when talking about age, quantity, time, or price. This expression conveys the sense that the number is not entirely precise but is very close to the actual value.
Examples (例句 lìjù)(5)
- 他看起来三十岁上下。繁: 他看起來三十歲上下。Tā kàn qǐlái sānshí suì shàngxià.
He looks around thirty years old.
- 这个班有二十个学生上下。繁: 這個班有二十個學生上下。Zhège bān yǒu èrshí ge xuéshēng shàngxià.
This class has around twenty students.
- 这件衣服的价格在一百元上下。繁: 這件衣服的價格在一百元上下。Zhè jiàn yīfu de jiàgé zài yìbǎi yuán shàngxià.
The price of this piece of clothing is around one hundred yuan.
- 我们下午三点上下在公司门口见。繁: 我們下午三點上下在公司門口見。Wǒmen xiàwǔ sān diǎn shàngxià zài gōngsī ménkǒu jiàn.
Let's meet at the company gate around three o'clock in the afternoon.
- 从我家到学校要二十分钟上下。繁: 從我家到學校要二十分鐘上下。Cóng wǒ jiā dào xuéxiào yào èrshí fēnzhōng shàngxià.
It takes about twenty minutes or so from my home to school.
Common mistakes
- Wrong:他看起来上下三十岁。Correct:他看起来三十岁上下。
上下 must come after the numeral it modifies, unlike "khoảng" in Vietnamese which can come before.
- Wrong:这个西瓜有十多斤上下。Correct:这个西瓜有十斤上下。
Both `多` and `上下` indicate estimation; using them together is redundant and unnatural.