几个
How to Understand
几个 means 'a few' or 'several' in English. It is used to indicate an unspecified small number of things, typically between two and four. Unlike exact numbers like 两个 (two) or 三个 (three), 几个 suggests a vague or approximate quantity.
The character 几 (jǐ) originally meant 'how many' or 'what number,' and it evolved into a quantifier for small, indefinite quantities. 个 (gè) is a common measure word used for objects, people, or abstract concepts. Together, 几个 functions as a quantifier phrase rather than a standalone noun or number.
几个 is commonly used in everyday conversations when the exact number isn't important. For example, you might ask 几个人来参加聚会？(How many people are coming to the party?) to get an estimate. It's also used in expressions like 几个问题 (a few questions) or 几个建议 (a few suggestions).