多
Pattern
Subject + 多 + adjective?
Key words
Core idea
多 can ask about degree before certain adjectives. It is common with height, age, distance, length, size, and similar measurable qualities.
The question word comes before the adjective: “how tall,” “how old,” or “how far.”
What learners often miss
This is not the same as asking “how many.” For countable amounts, Mandarin uses other question words. 多 here asks about the degree of an adjective.
Keep the adjective after 多.
Examples
你多高？
Nǐ duō gāo?
How tall are you?
这条路多长？
Zhè tiáo lù duō cháng?
How long is this road?
你妹妹多大？
Nǐ mèimei duō dà?
How old is your younger sister?
Common mistakes
Avoid
你高多？
Use
你多高？
多 comes before the adjective in this question pattern.
Seen in stories
The Menu With No Price
小美问：“这碗面多少钱？”
Xiaomei asks, "How much is this bowl of noodles?"
The Bento With No Price
小晴问：“这个便当多少钱？”
Xiaoqing asks, “How much is this bento?”
How Tall Is the Temple Lantern?
志工阿德问：“这个灯笼有多高？”
Volunteer Ade asks, “How tall is this lantern?”
How Tall Is the Temple Lantern?
他们又问：“上面的绳子有多长？”
They ask again, “How long is the rope above it?”
How Tall Is the Temple Lantern?
阿德把大灯笼放在旁边，看两个影子有多长。
Ade puts the big lantern beside it and checks how long the two shadows are.