八九

bājiǔ

number #23,241

Meanings

1 eight or nine
2 approximately eight or nine
3 in most cases; about right (in fixed phrases)

Characters

Examples

HSK 2

这件事十有八九是他做的。

Zhè jiàn shì shíyǒubājiǔ shì tā zuò de.

In all likelihood, he is the one who did this.

HSK 3

他现在大概八九岁的样子。

Tā xiànzài dàgài bājiǔ suì de yàngzi.

He looks to be about eight or nine years old now.

Tips

usage

八九 appears in common fixed expressions: 八九不离十 (very close to the mark; roughly right) and 十之八九 / 十有八九 (in 8 or 9 cases out of 10; most likely). These idioms use 八九 to mean 'the vast majority.'

Stroke Order

八 bā

九 jiǔ