<p><code>[Number] [Measure word] 多 [Noun]</code> = <code>More than [number] [noun]s</code>:</p>

<p>“I've only been here a little over three months.” (The <code>才</code> adds the meaning of "only just".)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T04:06:13.063Z
2012-11-24T14:13:38.773Z
2012-11-24T14:13:38.773Z
yst
<p>As everyone else has said, it means "just over x amount" in this context. The major hint for "just over" is <code>才</code>, meaning "merely", or "just". So, they could be saying "I've only been here just over three months... give me a break!"</p>

<p>Another thing you may see to indicate "it's just over", or "it's been <em>about</em> this long" is the use of <code>左右</code> zuo3 you4 ("left, right").</p>

<pre><code>我才来了三个月左右 = I arrived here about three months ago.
</code></pre>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T16:19:07.277Z
2012-11-24T16:19:07.277Z
user3871
<p>It means the person has been there for more than three months, but fewer than four months.</p>

<p>Translated, it says, "I've only been here for slightly more than three months."</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T13:10:04.877Z
2012-11-24T13:10:04.877Z
Ewin
<p>In this case, "多" can be taken to mean "plus". Plus, as an adjective, carries the meaning of "more than, by a certain amount". </p>

<blockquote>
  <p>I have only been here for three months plus.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>I have to disagree with what many have written here regarding the purpose of "才". Using the following example as a form of disambiguation:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我三点多有一个会议，现在才十一点多，我们还有时间吃午饭。<br>
  I have a meeting at three plus, now is only 11 plus, we still have
  time for lunch.</p>
</blockquote>

<p>"才" has <em>no implication</em> on the <strong>actual time</strong> since "多" in 三点多 is not much different from "多" in 十一点多. In the context of your sentence, "才" is <em>merely</em> used to emphasize the shortness of the time period that you have been here. In my example, "才" is used to emphasize the earliness of time.</p>

<p>"多" by itself means exceeding by less than a unit of measurement. Example:</p>

<ul>
<li>十多度 (between 10 and 20 degrees, 1 unit = 10 degrees)</li>
<li>一岁多 (between 1 and 2 years old, 1 unit = 1 year)</li>
<li>三个多月 (between 3 and 4 months, 1 unit = 1 month)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T06:03:41.447Z
2012-11-25T15:15:22.253Z
2012-11-25T15:15:22.253Z
杨以轩
<p>Put it in a simple way, first, we know 多 means many. But the 多 here has a meaning of many or less - 多少。 So literally is 3 months and " many or less". Because the speaker is not sure many or less, so here 三个多月 in English term is 3 months or so. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-04-17T18:56:25.743Z
2014-04-17T18:56:25.743Z
ChineseHulu.com
<p>It must be pretty easy, but what does 多 mean here?</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>我才来了三个多月</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T09:00:23.853Z
I'm not sure if `more than 3` or `just over 3` imply `less than 4` as the Chinese `多` means.
halfelf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-11-24T16:13:35.100Z
@halfelf In this case it means "just over 3".
user3871
<meaning>
How can I interpret 多 in 我才来了三个多月?
# How can I interpret 多 in 我才来了三个多月?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2012-11-24)

It must be pretty easy, but what does 多 mean here?

> 我才来了三个多月

**Tags:** meaning

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I'm not sure if `more than 3` or `just over 3` imply `less than 4` as the Chinese `多` means.  
> **username_2**: @username_1 In this case it means "just over 3".  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2012-11-24. Score: 6

`[Number] [Measure word] 多 [Noun]` = `More than [number] [noun]s`:

“I've only been here a little over three months.” (The `才` adds the meaning of "only just".)


---

### Answer by username_2 on 2012-11-24. Score: 5

As everyone else has said, it means "just over x amount" in this context. The major hint for "just over" is `才`, meaning "merely", or "just". So, they could be saying "I've only been here just over three months... give me a break!"

Another thing you may see to indicate "it's just over", or "it's been *about* this long" is the use of `左右` zuo3 you4 ("left, right").

```
我才来了三个月左右 = I arrived here about three months ago.

```


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2012-11-24. Score: 5

It means the person has been there for more than three months, but fewer than four months.

Translated, it says, "I've only been here for slightly more than three months."


---

### Answer by username_5 on 2012-11-24. Score: 2

In this case, "多" can be taken to mean "plus". Plus, as an adjective, carries the meaning of "more than, by a certain amount".

> I have only been here for three months plus.

I have to disagree with what many have written here regarding the purpose of "才". Using the following example as a form of disambiguation:

> 我三点多有一个会议，现在才十一点多，我们还有时间吃午饭。  
> I have a meeting at three plus, now is only 11 plus, we still have
> time for lunch.

"才" has *no implication* on the **actual time** since "多" in 三点多 is not much different from "多" in 十一点多. In the context of your sentence, "才" is *merely* used to emphasize the shortness of the time period that you have been here. In my example, "才" is used to emphasize the earliness of time.

"多" by itself means exceeding by less than a unit of measurement. Example:

* 十多度 (between 10 and 20 degrees, 1 unit = 10 degrees)
* 一岁多 (between 1 and 2 years old, 1 unit = 1 year)
* 三个多月 (between 3 and 4 months, 1 unit = 1 month)


---

### Answer by username_6 on 2014-04-17. Score: 1

Put it in a simple way, first, we know 多 means many. But the 多 here has a meaning of many or less - 多少。 So literally is 3 months and " many or less". Because the speaker is not sure many or less, so here 三个多月 in English term is 3 months or so.


---

