กี่ + Classifier

This lesson shows quantity questions with a question word followed by a classifier or counting unit. Read what is being counted and which unit the question uses.

1. The Structure:
The standard word order is: Noun + กี่ (gìi [low tone]) + Classifier.
For example, to ask 'How many cats?', you say 'Cat + กี่ + Animal Classifier' (แมวกี่ตัว).

2. The Requirement of Classifiers:
In the count pattern shown here, a classifier follows กี่. Choose one that fits what you are counting, such as คน for people or อัน for some objects. It does not replace every other classifier. For self-classifying nouns like 'day' (วัน) or 'year' (ปี), the noun itself acts as the classifier and follows กี่ directly (e.g., กี่วัน, กี่ปี). Learn the classifier used for the particular item; do not assume every object can be counted with อัน.

3. How to Answer:
To answer the displayed กี่ cat question, replace กี่ with a number and keep the classifier. For example, if the question is แมวกี่ตัว? (How many cats?), the answer is แมว 3 ตัว (3 cats).

4. Nuance and Usage:

• กี่ vs. เท่าไหร่: The count pattern with กี่ does not set an upper limit on the answer (e.g., asking about a large number of cars can still use รถกี่คัน). Use เท่าไหร่ for amounts, prices, measurements, or totals. It can also ask about a count in an appropriate construction, so the choice is not an exclusive countable-versus-uncountable rule. In the displayed count pattern, กี่ comes immediately before its classifier or unit. Read เท่าไหร่ in its own complete construction.
• Asking Age: A general age question can use อายุเท่าไหร่. For a child's age in years, the pattern shown here uses กี่ with the age classifier ขวบ (กี่ขวบ).
• Sequences and Dates: A question about a position in a sequence can use ที่เท่าไหร่ (e.g., วันที่เท่าไหร่ - what date?). Asking which position is different from asking how many units there are. This pattern does not establish a ban on กี่ in every date or position question.
• Per Unit: To ask 'how much per unit', use the pattern 'Classifier + ละ + กี่บาท' (e.g., ชิ้นละกี่บาท - how many baht per piece?).
• Not Many (ไม่กี่): When กี่ is preceded by ไม่, it means 'not many' or 'only a few' (e.g., ไม่กี่คน - only a few people).
• Any Amount: In the displayed phrase with ก็ได้, the quantity is unrestricted: 'any number of' or 'however many' (e.g., กี่คนก็ได้ - however many people is fine).
• Telling Time: The time question shown here uses กี่ in กี่โมง (What time is it?).
• Dropping the Noun: If the context is clear, you can drop the noun and just say กี่เล่ม? (How many [books]?).