Measure words for verbs

When a verb is done more than once, it also requires a measure word to accompany it. This way the measure word is acting as a way to count the frequency or re-occurrence of an action.

Structure

V + Number + MW

The grammar pattern is very similar to English. For example, "看三次" and "saw three times" mirror each other in structure. In Chinese sentences, these measure words can either come after the verb (as a complement) or before the word (as an adverb). You should also know that, like nouns, some verbs have special measure words to go with them. The basic verbal measure word, however, is 次.

Examples

• 做 两 次 zuò liǎng cìDo it twice.
• 拍 六 下 pāi liù xiàTake it six times.
• 写 十 页 xiě shí yèWrite ten pages.
• 跳 五 次 tiào wǔ cìJump five times.
• 打 他 三 下dǎ tā sān xià Hit him three times.
• 亲 一 下qīn yī xiàKiss once.
• 画 七 幅huà qī fú Draw 7 paintings.
• 背 二 十 遍 bèi èrshí biànRecite twenty times.

See also

• Measure words for counting
• Measure words to differentiate
• Measure words in quantity questions