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How Many?

Learn to ask about quantities

5words
15XP
6–10min
Practice this lesson

Once you can count, the next step is asking about quantity. This lesson covers 幾 (gei2) and 幾多 (gei2 do1) for “how many” and “how much,” how to attach a classifier with 幾個 (gei2 go3), and the everyday question 幾歲 (gei2 seoi3) for asking someone's age. These patterns turn your numbers into real questions you can use anywhere.

What you'll learn

  • Ask “how many” with 幾 (gei2)
  • Ask “how much” with 幾多 (gei2 do1)
  • Ask “how many things” with 幾個 (gei2 go3)
  • Ask “how many are there” with 有幾多 (jau5 gei2 do1)
  • Ask someone's age with 幾歲 (gei2 seoi3)

Now let's learn to ask “how many?” in Cantonese. The key word is 幾, which can mean “how many” or “several”.

gei2幾

how many / several

nei5你jiu3要gei2幾bui1杯caa4茶?

How many cups of tea do you want?

gei2幾do1多

how many / how much

ni1呢go3個gei2幾do1多cin2錢?

How much does this cost?

gei2幾go3個

how many (things)

nei5你uk1屋kei2企jau5有gei2幾go3個jan4人?

How many people are in your family?

jau5有gei2幾do1多

how many are there

nei1呢dou6度jau5有gei2幾do1多zek3隻maau1貓?

How many cats are there here?

gei2幾seoi3歲

how old (age)

nei5你gam1今nin4年gei2幾seoi3歲?

How old are you this year?

Frequently asked questions

How do you ask how many in Cantonese?

Use 幾 (gei2) for small counts, often with a classifier, as in 幾個 (gei2 go3). For larger or open-ended amounts, 幾多 (gei2 do1) works for both “how many” and “how much.”

What is the difference between 幾 and 幾多?

幾 (gei2) suits smaller, countable amounts and usually takes a classifier, while 幾多 (gei2 do1) covers bigger quantities and uncountable things like money.

How do you ask someone's age in Cantonese?

Ask 你幾歲 using 幾歲 (gei2 seoi3), which literally means “how many years.” It is the standard, friendly way to ask a child or a peer their age.