joek3 sou3約數约数
Jyutpingjoek3 sou3
Yaleyeuk sou
Definition
An approximate number; a simplified value close to but not exactly equal to the precise number.
colloquialnumbers
How it's used
People often use this when dealing with money or time to avoid being overly pedantic about exact figures. It carries a sense of flexibility, implying that the speaker is rounding off for the sake of convenience rather than aiming for scientific precision. It is common to pair this with verbs like 報 or 講 to request a rough estimate.
Examples
This number is just an approximation, no need to take it so seriously.
Can you give me an approximate figure?
Related words
Common phrases
give an approximate figure
just an approximation
Common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse this with 概數, which is a more formal or academic term for approximate numbers. In casual daily speech, 約數 is the standard choice, while 概數 might sound slightly stiff or like a textbook definition.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- In 30 secondsThe whole language at a glance. No tenses, no plurals, six tones, sentence particles. Read this before you dive into any specific topic.
- ParticlesSentence particles add tone, emotion, and nuance. Learn the most common particles in Cantonese and how to use them.
- Possession (嘅)How to say my, your, and his, and how to link a describing word to a noun, all with the little word 嘅 (ge3).
