Measure words
一个人, 三本书: a word between the number and the noun.
Between a number and a noun goes a measure word (量词 liàngcí), chosen by what kind of thing the noun is, much as English says "a sheet of paper" or "a cup of tea", but for every noun. 个 gè is the commonest, and the safe choice when you don't know another.
| Measure word | For | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 个 gè | people, and most things | 一个人 yí ge rén one person, 三个苹果 sān ge píngguǒ three apples |
| 本 běn | books | 两本书 liǎng běn shū two books |
| 张 zhāng | flat things: paper, tickets, tables, beds | 一张纸 yì zhāng zhǐ a sheet of paper |
| 只 zhī | many animals | 一只猫 yì zhī māo a cat |
| 条 tiáo | long, narrow things: roads, rivers, fish, trousers | 一条鱼 yì tiáo yú a fish |
| 件 jiàn | clothes for the top, matters | 一件衣服 yí jiàn yīfu a piece of clothing, 一件事 yí jiàn shì a matter |
| 杯 bēi | cups and glasses of | 一杯茶 yì bēi chá a cup of tea |
| 瓶 píng | bottles of | 两瓶水 liǎng píng shuǐ two bottles of water |
| 辆 liàng | vehicles | 一辆车 yí liàng chē a car |
| 位 wèi | people, politely | 三位老师 sān wèi lǎoshī three teachers |
| 双 shuāng | pairs | 一双鞋 yì shuāng xié a pair of shoes |
| 块 kuài | pieces | 一块蛋糕 yí kuài dàngāo a piece of cake |
- Wǒ mǎile sān běn shū.I bought three books.
- Wǒ yǒu yì zhī māo.I have a cat.
With this, that, which and how many
这 "this", 那 "that", 哪 "which", 几 "how many" and 每 "every" take a measure word too: 这个 "this one", 那本书 "that book", 几个人 "how many people", 每个人 "everyone".
- Nàge rén shì shéi?Who's that person?
- Nǐ yǒu jǐ ge háizi?How many children do you have?
Two is 两
Before a measure word, "two" is 两 liǎng, never 二 èr: 两个人 "two people".
Cards from this guide
10 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Sentences cards.
What goes between a number and a noun, as in "three books"?
A measure word: 三本书 (sān běn shū).
What is the all-purpose measure word?
个 (gè).
Which measure word goes with flat things like paper or tickets?
张 (zhāng).
How do you say "two people"?
两个人 (liǎng ge rén), not 二个人.
How do you say "that book"?
那本书 (nà běn shū).
Which measure word goes with long, narrow things like fish or roads?
条 (tiáo).
How do you ask "How many children do you have?"
你有几个孩子？
Which measure word goes with cats and most animals?
只 (zhī).
Which measure word goes with cups of tea or coffee?
杯 (bēi).
Which measure word goes with cars and bikes?
辆 (liàng).