(すうじゅう)

すうじゅう
noun
several tens; dozens
1. several tens; dozens; scores
An approximate quantity meaning roughly 20 to 90, used when the exact number is not important or not known. Combines with counters to indicate an approximate count.
数十人(すうじゅうにん)(あつ)まった。
Several dozen people gathered.
この建物(たてもの)数十年(すうじゅうねん)(まえ)()てられた。
This building was built several decades ago.
地震(じしん)影響(えいきょう)数十万人(すうじゅうまんにん)避難(ひなん)生活(せいかつ)(おく)っている。
Hundreds of thousands of people are living as evacuees due to the earthquake.

An approximate number word in the (すう)~ series. (すう) prefixed to a number word indicates "several" of that unit. 数十(すうじゅう) means roughly 20–90, though the exact range is vague.

COMMON COMBINATIONS:

  • 数十人(すうじゅうにん): several dozen people
  • 数十年(すうじゅうねん): several decades
  • 数十万(すうじゅうまん): several hundred thousand
  • 数十億(すうじゅうおく): tens of billions

RELATED NUMBER WORDS:

  • (すう): several (prefix)
  • 数百(すうひゃく): several hundred
  • 数千(すうせん): several thousand
  • 数万(すうまん): tens of thousands

SIMILAR WORDS:

  • 何十(なんじゅう): tens of — used in questions or exclamations, slightly different nuance
  • 十数(じゅうすう): ten-odd, between 10 and 19 — a smaller range than 数十(すうじゅう)