幾 + Classifier

A Few

Level 1Sounds Like gei2

幾 (gei2) + Classifier + Noun = 'A few [nouns]'. It replaces a specific number in the counting frame.

How It Works

The word 幾 (gei2) functions as an indefinite number. To become confident with it, follow these rules:

  • The Standard Frame: Just like counting with numbers, you must include a classifier. For example, 'a few people' is 幾個人 (gei2 go3 jan4), not *幾人.
  • Time Words: Some time-related nouns act as their own classifiers. In these cases, 幾 (gei2) attaches directly to them. Examples include 幾日 (gei2 jat6, a few days) and 幾年 (gei2 nin4, a few years).
  • The Exception: Crucially, 'month' (月 jyut6) is not a self-classifier. You must say 幾個月 (gei2 go3 jyut6). Week words usually take 個 too, as in 幾個禮拜 (gei2 go3 lai5 baai3), although 星期 (sing1 kei4) is also often used without it.
  • Position with Ten: The meaning changes based on where you put 幾 (gei2) relative to the number ten (十 sap6):
    1. 十幾 (sap6 gei2): Ten-plus (11–19).
    2. 幾十 (gei2 sap6): Tens of (20, 30, etc.).

Note: Do not confuse this with the adverb 幾 (gei2), which means 'quite' and precedes an adjective (e.g., 幾好 gei2 hou2 - quite good).

Examples (5)

  1. 我買咗幾本書。

    I bought a few books.

    Word by Word: I buy [perfective] a-few [CL] book.

    本 (bun2) is the mandatory classifier for books (書 syu1).

  2. 佢喺嗰度住咗幾日。

    He lived there for a few days.

    Word by Word: He at there live [perfective] a-few day.

    日 (jat6, day) is a 'self-classifier,' so no extra classifier is needed between 幾 (gei2) and 日 (jat6).

  3. 我哋要等幾個月。

    We need to wait for a few months.

    Word by Word: We need wait a-few [CL] month.

    Unlike 'days' or 'years', the word for 'month' (月 jyut6) requires the classifier 個 (go3).

  4. 呢度有十幾個人。

    There are ten-plus people here (between 11 and 19).

    Word by Word: Here have ten-a-few [CL] person.

    Placing 幾 (gei2) after 十 (sap6) indicates a number in the teens.

  5. 我想買幾件衫。

    I want to buy a few pieces of clothing.

    Word by Word: I want buy a-few [CL] clothes.

    件 (gin6) is the classifier for items of clothing (衫 saam1).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 幾月 (gei2 jyut6) for 'a few months'.

    Different Meaning我下個禮拜去幾月旅行。
    我下個禮拜去幾個月旅行。

    幾月 (gei2 jyut6) normally asks which month of the year (幾月幾號), so 我下個禮拜去幾月旅行 does not say how long. For 'a few months', use 幾個月. Note that 幾星期 and 幾禮拜 are also normal without 個.

  • Omitting the classifier before a general noun.

    我買咗幾書。
    我買咗幾本書。

    In Cantonese, you must use a classifier (like 本 bun2) when quantifying a noun with 幾 (gei2), just as you would with a specific number in the counting frame.

  • Using 幾個 (gei2 go3) to ask 'how many' without knowing it signals a small number.

    Different Meaning你有幾個人？
    你有幾多個人？

    你有幾個人？ is a normal question in Cantonese. 幾 (gei2) asks 'how many' when you expect a small number, and it also means 'a few' in a statement. 幾多 (gei2 do1) is the neutral question with no size expected, so use 幾多 (gei2 do1) when the number could be large.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

幾 + ClassifierLevel 1A Few

Learn This First

To use '幾' as 'a few', you first need to understand how Cantonese uses classifiers to count objects. This pattern functions exactly like the standard number-classifier-noun structure, but substitutes a specific number for the word '幾'.

Words in This Pattern

几