Let’s take a look at a pair of similar‑looking words!
大概 (dàgài, probably) is used to say something probably happened or will happen.
他大概不会来。
Tā dàgài bù huì lái.
He probably won’t come.
明天大概会下雪。
Míngtiān dàgài huì xià xuě.
It will probably snow tomorrow.
大约 (dàyuē, approximately) is used to talk about an approximate number.
现在的温度大约是十五度。
Xiànzài de wēndù dàyuē shì shíwǔ dù.
The temperature now is approximately 15 degrees.
那件衬衫大约五百块。
Nà jiàn chènshān dàyuē wǔbǎi kuài.
That shirt is approximately five hundred yuan.
To ask What temperature is it?, you can add 度 (dù, degrees) after 几.
现在几度？
Xiànzài jǐ dù?
What is the temperature now?
现在十五度。
Xiànzài shì shíwǔ dù.
The temperature now is 15 degrees.
Like many parts of the world, China uses Celsius for temperature. So 15 degrees would be a cool day, not a freezing one!
Here’s another character with multiple pronunciations!
| 和 | 和 hé and 暖和 nuǎnhuo warm |