HSK 7-9
若干
ruògān
A certain number of; several
Structure
若干 + (Classifier) + Noun
How it works
若干 is a formal numeral used to indicate an indefinite amount or a certain number of something. It is commonly used in written Chinese, academic texts, or official documents to signify 'some' or 'several' without specifying an exact figure.
Examples
这个问题可以从若干个角度进行分析。
Zhè ge wèntí kěyǐ cóng ruògān ge jiǎodù jìnxíng fēnxī.
This problem can be analyzed from several different perspectives.
他已经在此领域工作了若干年。
Tā yǐjīng zài cǐ lǐngyù gōngzuò le ruògān nián.
He has already worked in this field for a number of years.
该项政策将由若干部分组成。
Gāi xiàng zhèngcè jiāng yóu ruògān bùfèn zǔchéng.
This policy will consist of several parts.
Common mistakes
Do not use '若干' in very casual daily conversation (like 'I bought several apples'); use '几个' (jǐ gè) instead to avoid sounding overly stiff or academic.
Tip
In formal writing, '若干' can often be used as a placeholder for a variable or an unknown quantity, similar to 'x' in mathematics or 'a certain amount' in legal contexts.
More HSK 7-9 grammar
See 若干 in real Chinese
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