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Expressing "less than" with 不到 ("bu4dao4")

不到 bùdào

Preposition
HSK 3

Structure

Subj. + 不到 + Number + [Measure Word] + Noun Subj. + 不到 + Time + 就 + Predicate + 了

Translations

  • less than

Definition

不到用于表示数量或程度没有达到某个标准或数量。通常放在数字或数量词前，表示“少于”、“不足”。

"不到" is used to indicate that a quantity or degree does not reach a certain standard or number. It is usually placed before a number or quantifier to mean "less than" or "under".

Usage

当需要表达某个数量少于另一个数量时，使用“不到”加数量。例如，“不到十个人”表示少于十个人。它也可以用于时间、年龄、长度等。

When expressing that a quantity is less than another, use "不到" followed by the quantity. For example, "不到十个人" means less than ten people. It can also be used for time, age, length, etc.

Examples

  • 1 他不到三十岁就当上了经理。 (He became a manager when he was less than thirty years old.)
  • 2 这次考试不到五个人及格。 (Less than five people passed this exam.)
  • 3 这件衣服不到一百块钱。 (This piece of clothing costs less than one hundred yuan.)
  • 4 从我家到公司走路不到十分钟。 (It takes less than ten minutes to walk from my home to the company.)
  • 5 这个游泳池不到两米深。 (This swimming pool is less than two meters deep.)

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