Definition

1. Interrogative pronoun:

   • How much; How many: Used to ask about an unspecified quantity, amount, or degree. It is the primary question word for inquiring about countable numbers or uncountable amounts.
   • How (with adjectives of measurement): Used with adjectives like "old," "tall," "deep," etc., to ask about the specific degree or extent of a quality.

2. Indefinite pronoun:

   • Any amount; Any number: Used in statements to refer to an unspecified or unlimited quantity, often implying "whatever amount" or "as much as."
   • So much; So many: Used in exclamatory sentences to emphasize a large, often impressive, but unspecified quantity.

Usage Examples

• As an interrogative (How much/How many):

  • Cái máy vi tính này trị giá bao nhiêu? (How much does this micro-computer cost?)
  • Anh được bao nhiêu điểm? (How many marks did you get?)
  • Anh bao nhiêu tuổi? (How old are you?)

• As an interrogative (How + adjective):

  • Cái hồ bơi này sâu bao nhiêu? (How deep is this swimming pool?)
  • Bức tường này cao bao nhiêu? (How high is this wall?)

• As an indefinite pronoun (Any amount):

  • Bao nhiêu cũng được. (Any amount is fine. / Whatever amount will do.)

• As an indefinite pronoun (So much/many):

  • Bao nhiêu là hàng hóa! (So many goods! / What a lot of goods!)

Advanced Usage

• "biết bao nhiêu": An emphatic phrase meaning "how very much," often expressing deep emotion.

  • Tôi yêu nó biết bao nhiêu! (I love her/him/it so very much!)

• "bao nhiêu... bấy nhiêu": A correlative structure meaning "as much/many... as." It indicates a direct, proportional relationship.

  • Bao nhiêu tấc đất, tấc vàng bấy nhiêu. (As many inches of land, that many inches of gold. / Land is as precious as gold.)

Variants and Related Words

• Bao lâu: An interrogative phrase meaning "how long" (referring to duration of time).
  • Trong bao nhiêu lâu? (In how much time? / How long?)

Synonyms

• How much / How many: The primary synonyms for its interrogative function.
• What number / What amount: More literal synonyms.
• Any quantity: A synonym for its indefinite function.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• Không đáng bao nhiêu: An idiom meaning "not worth much" or "not a significant amount."

  • Món đồ này không đáng bao nhiêu. (This item isn't worth much.)

• Có bao nhiêu tiền đâu: A colloquial phrase meaning "I/we don't have much money."

  • Tôi có bao nhiêu tiền đâu mà mua. (I don't have much money to buy it.)

1. How much; how many
   • cái máy vi tính này trị giá bao nhiêu?
     how much does this micro-computer cost?
   • anh được bao nhiêu điểm?
     how many marks did you get?
   • anh bao nhiêu tuổi?
     how old are you?
   • cái hồ bơi này sâu bao nhiêu?
     how deep is this swimming-pool?
   • bức tường này cao bao nhiêu?
     how high is this wall?
2. Any, any number, any amount
   • bao nhiêu cũng được
     Any amount can do
3. So much, so many