本文讨论“十来(个)、三十来(碗)”之类表示概数的结构,包括两大部分。第一部分,讨论构造形式。一般认为,这类结构是“来”用在“数词或数量词”后边。本文指出,就数词而言,概数助词“来”只能出现在段位数词(十、百、千等)后边,个位数词(一、.三、九等)不能直接跟“来”构成概数结构;就数量词而言,只有由度量衡单位构成的数量词才能进入这一结构。第二部分,讨论含义状况。在表义上,对于本数来说,这类结构是表示“略多”、“略少”还是“左右”,学界意见严重分歧。本文通过深入细致的考察,认为最切合语言实际的概括是“左右”。现代汉语里肯定如此,近代汉语里应该也是如此。写作本文,强调一条原则:“事实终判”。即:以语言事实作为最终判定的权威依据。
Approximate structure with Lai(来), such as "ten + Lai(来) (ge, which is a measure word), thirty+ Lai(来) (bowls)", is discussed in this paper. It consists of two parts. Part one is discussion on its formal structure. Previously, it was considered that Lai(来) appeared behind numerals or quantifiers. This paper points out that approximate auxiliary word "lai" only appears after segment numerals (such as "ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand" etc.). Unit numerals (such as "one, three, nine" etc.) can not form approximate structure together with Lai(来). As for quantifiers, only the ones with weights and measures units can enter this structure. Part two is research on its semantic meaning. The problem of whether its semantic meaning should be regarded as "roughly more", "roughly less" or "about" has been resulting in disagreement among Chinese linguistic circle. After thorough and detailed inspection, the paper draws the conclusion that "about" is the one best matches the language facts. It is the case in modern Chinese according to the inspection, and also should be so in Neoteric Chinese.The purpose of the paper is to call attention to the principle of language facts as the ultimate criterion.