Grammar
Measure Words
You can't say "two book" in Chinese — every counted noun needs a measure word between the number and the noun, like the English "two sheets of paper" or "three cups of coffee".
[number] + [measure word] + [noun]
The all-purpose one: 个 (gè)
If unsure, use 个. It works for people and many objects.
- 一 个 人 — yī gè rén — "one person"
- 三 个 学生 — sān gè xuésheng — "three students"
Note: for the number 2 with a measure word, use 两 (liǎng) instead of 二.
Common specific measure words
| Character | Pinyin | Used with |
|---|---|---|
| gè | general — people, things | |
| běn | books, bound items | |
| zhāng | flat things — paper, tables, tickets | |
| zhī | animals, single items of a pair |
Examples:
- 三 本 书 — "three books"
- 一 张 桌子 — "one table"
- 两 只 猫 — "two cats"
Quiz
Pick the best answer for each question. You get feedback right away.
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What is the all-purpose measure word?
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How do you say "two books"?
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Which measure word is used for flat things like paper and tables?