One aspect that Chinese learners find difficult when learning Chinese is the use of measure words. In English, we can use numbers or indefinite articles "a/an" to count noun objects. For instance, we can say "an apple", "a pen" or "two dogs" to do the counting. However, in Chinese, it works differently. To count nouns, we have to add a measure word or quantifier, known as "量词(liàng cí)", in between the number and the noun. The basic structure goes like this:

[Number + Measure Word + Noun]

Each object has its own unique measure word, thus it is important to memorize the appropriate measure word that goes along with it. Some objects may not be limited to only one measure word, there may be another measure word that is appropriate to use as well.

In this article, we will learn 15 common measure words and many new words and phrases that often appear in our daily conversations and written texts. Let us begin!

个

"个" (gè) is the most common Chinese measure word. For those objects that do not have a unique measure word, they often take up "个" as their measure word:

• 两个人(rén, people)

• 三个小孩(xiǎo hái, child)

• 一个国家(guó jiā, country)

• 一个念头(niàn tou, thought; idea)

• 两个月(yuè, month)

• 一个星期(xīng qī, week)

• 一个陌生人(mò shēng rén, stranger)

• 一个事件(shì jiàn, incident)

• 一个办公室(bàn gōng shì, office)

把

"把" (bǎ) is used before items with handles or when expressing "a handful of":

• 两把椅子(yǐ zi, chair)

• 一把雨伞(yǔ sǎn, umbrella)

• 三把梳子(shū zi, comb)

• 一把花(huā, flower)

• 两把扇子(shàn zi, paper fan)

本

"本" (běn) is used before book or volume:

• 三本书(shū, book)

• 一本日记(rì jì, diary)

• 两本小说(xiǎo shuō, novel)

部

"部" (bù) is used to refer to books, movies and even portable electronic products:

• 一部小说(Apart from “本”, "部" can also be used as a measure word for novel)

• 两部字典(zì diǎn, dictionary)

• 三部电影(diàn yǐng, movie)

• 一部电脑(diàn nǎo, laptop. In this case, laptop is the preferred meaning of "电脑" instead of computer because laptop is portable.)

• 两部手机(shǒu jī, handphone)

封

"封" (fēng) is used before items that are sealed:

• 十封信(xìn, letter)

• 一封电子邮件(diàn zǐ yóu jiàn, email)

份

"份" (fèn) conveys "portion", "share" and "copies":

• 两份报纸(bào zhǐ, newspaper)

• 一份礼物(lǐ wù, gift)

• 一份早餐(zǎo cān, breakfast)

串

"串" (chuàn) is used for items that come in bunches or clusters

• 一串鸡肉(jī ròu, chicken skewer)

• 一串葡萄(pú tao, grape)

• 两串香蕉(xiāng jiāo, banana)

• 一串珍珠项链(zhēn zhū xiàng liàn, pearl neckless)

杯

"杯" (bēi) is used for drinks that are poured into a cup:

• 一杯咖啡(kā fēi, coffee)

• 两杯奶茶(nǎi chá, milk tea)

• 一杯橙汁(chéng zhī, orange juice)

• 三杯啤酒(pí jiǔ, beer)

• 一杯茶(chá, tea)

• 两杯红酒(hóng jiǔ, red wine)

• 一杯香槟(xiāng bīn, champagne)

台

"台" (tái) is used for staged shows, machine or non-portable electronic products:

• 一台话剧(huà jù, stage play)

• 一台晚会(wǎn huì, evening party)

• 两台电脑(diàn nǎo, computer. In this context, computer is the preferred meaning of "电脑" as compared to laptop because "台" is often used for electronic products that are non-portable)

• 三台电视(diàn shì, TV)

• 一台洗衣机(xǐ yī jī, washing machine)

只

"只" (zhī) is used to refer to one of a pair of body parts, animals, earrings and even a small boat:

• 一只眼睛(yǎn jīng, eye)

• 两只耳朵(ěr duǒ, ear)

• 一只熊猫(xióng māo, panda)

• 三只兔子(tù zi, rabbit)

• 一只鸟(niǎo, bird)

• 两只耳环(ěr huán, earrings)

• 一只小船(xiǎo chuán, small boat)

双

"双" (shuāng) is different from "只", it is used for items that come in pairs.

• 一双袜子(wà zi, socks)

• 一双鞋(xié, shoes)

• 一双眼睛(yǎn jīng, eye)

• 一双手(shǒu, hand)

• 三双筷子(kuài zi, chopstick)

包

"包" (bāo) is used for items that are packed in a box, package or bundle, it is similar to "a bag of..." in English:

• 一包衣服(yī fú, clothes)

• 三包糖(táng, sweets)

• 一包快递(kuài dì, express delivery)

• 两包薯片(shǔ piàn, potato chips)

• 一包泡面(pào miàn, instant noodles)

• 一包咖啡豆(kā fēi dòu, coffee beans)

位

"位" (wèi) is used before people, especially used to address someone in a polite manner. Hence, it is more formal than "个":

• 两位老师(lǎo shī, teacher)

• 一位同学(tóng xué, classmate)

• 三位客人(kè rén, guests)

• 两位顾客(gù kè, customers)

• 一位教授(jiào shòu, professor)

匹

"匹" (pǐ) is used before animals such as horses and mules:

• 三匹马(mǎ, horse)

• 一匹骡子(luó zi, mule)

• 两匹狼(láng, wolf)

枚

"枚" is similar to "个", but it is often used before objects that are small in size:

• 一枚戒指(jiè zhǐ, ring)

• 两枚硬币(yìng bì, coins)

• 三枚邮票(yóu piào, stamps)

• 一枚奖章(jiǎng zhāng, medal）

In Chinese, there are so many measure words that are used before the objects in a sentence. Practicing and memorizing their usage is important to know them well. Using the wrong measure word can make the expression sound awkward, hence be careful how to use measure words correctly and appropriately. To learn more grammar points systematically and receive professional guidance from our Chinese teachers, check out the learning packages offered by Hanhai Language Studio.