許多 / 许多
xǔduō
The English phrase 'a lot' can be translated into Mandarin as 許多 / 许多 (xǔduō). If unsure, use 許多 / 许多. Wiktionary also lists 多 (duō).
Meaning: very much (adv)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 許多 / 许多 | xǔduō |
| 多 | duō |
The character 多 can be used as a predicate to mean 'is many' or 'is much', such as in the phrase '人多' meaning 'there are many people'. Additionally, the informal phrase 特别多 means 'a whole lot' or 'quite a lot'.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 許多 is composed of 許, which in classical contexts means 'to allow/permit' or 'to promise' and 多, meaning 'many/much'. Together, they function as a single unit meaning 'many' or 'a lot'.
Which one should you use?
While 許多 and 很多 both mean 'a lot', 許多 is more formal and literary, whereas 很多 is the standard way to say 'a lot' in daily conversation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase 很多, the character 很 acts as a degree adverb meaning 'very', making the phrase literally 'very much'.
How do you pronounce it?
xǔduō
Did you know?
- The character 多 originally consisted of two pieces of meat. In ancient times when meat was scarce, having two pieces was considered 'a lot'.
- Although 多 means 'many', it is also used as a prefix in questions to ask 'how much' or 'how many', such as in the word 多少 meaning 'how much'.
- In Mandarin, the word for 'very' 很 is often used with 多 to mean 'a lot'. However, 很 is frequently used as a 'neutral' marker to balance a sentence even when the speaker doesn't mean 'extremely'.
Examples in context
- 他有很多钱。He has a lot of money.This sentence is useful for showing how to say someone has a lot of money using 多.Tatoeba #480581 by biglion, translation #480576 by CK
- 汤姆熟人多。Tom knows a lot of people.This sentence shows how to say someone knows a lot of people using 多.Tatoeba #5099405 by musclegirlxyp, translation #1024625 by CK
- 那么多钢笔！What a lot of pens!This sentence demonstrates how to express 'what a lot of pens' using 多.Tatoeba #5552572 by verdastelo9604, translation #1913100 by CK
- 这个项目有很多挑战。This project has a lot of challenges.
- 我们公司有许多国际客户。Our company has many international clients.
- 这个城市有很多好吃的东西。This city has a lot of delicious food.
- 昨天晚上有特别多人参加派对。There were a whole lot of people at the party last night.
- 346 more sentences on Tatoeba
Sources
- Wiktionary, “a lot” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 多, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
