▎多, duō, (Adv), as in 多＋Verb, more... than planned (2)

 

Function Pre-verbal 多duō ‘more’ or 少shǎo ‘less’ indicates ‘more’ or ‘less/fewer’ than pre-conception.

1 我最近沒錢了，應該少買東西。

Wǒ zuìjìn méi qián le, yīnggāi shǎo mǎi dōngxi.

I haven’t had any money recently, so I should spend less (than usual).

2 我中文不好，應該多看書，少看電視。

Wǒ Zhōngwén bù hǎo, yīnggāi duō kànshū, shǎo kàn diànshì.

My Chinese is not good. I should study more and watch TV less.

3 我們明天應該多穿衣服嗎？

Wǒmen míngtiān yīnggāi duō chuān yīfú ma?

Should we wear more clothes than usual tomorrow?

 

Usage When a transitive verb occurs in this pattern, 一點yìdiǎn ‘a little bit’ is often used with its object.

1 他喜歡臺灣，想多學一點中文。

Tā xǐhuān Táiwān, xiǎng duō xué yìdiǎn Zhōngwén.

He likes Taiwan and wants to study Chinese a bit more.

2 昨天我朋友來我家，我多做了一點菜。

Zuótiān wǒ péngyǒu lái wǒ jiā, wǒ duō zuòle yìdiǎn cài.

Friends of mine came to my house yesterday. I made a little extra food.

3 她今天太累了，想少做一點功課。

Tā jīntiān tài lèi le, xiǎng shǎo zuò yìdiǎn gōngkè.

She is too tired today and wants to do less homework (than her teacher assigned.)