Difference between revisions of "Measure word "ge""
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个 (gè) is the most commonly used [[measure word]]. It can be used in a pinch for any noun if you can't think of a more precise measure word. (Although you might not sound quite as smart, you'll still get your point across). Also, for many nouns, 个 (gè) ''is'' the only correct measure word.
 
个 (gè) is the most commonly used [[measure word]]. It can be used in a pinch for any noun if you can't think of a more precise measure word. (Although you might not sound quite as smart, you'll still get your point across). Also, for many nouns, 个 (gè) ''is'' the only correct measure word.
  
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== General Structure ==
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== Counting Nouns ==
  
 
=== Structure ===  
 
=== Structure ===  
  
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The general structure for 个 (gè)--''and measure words in general''--is:
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The general structure for 个 (gè) and measure words in general is:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
  
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Num. + 个 + Noun
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Number + 个 + Noun
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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You can specify the quantity of any noun with this structure. Note that any time you want to state ''how many'' of a noun in Chinese, you probably need a measure word.  First get used to doing it with 个 (gè).
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Any time you want to state ''how many'' of a noun in Chinese, you probably need a measure word.  First get used to how they are used with 个 (gè).
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 两 <em>个</em> 老婆 <span class="expl">(If you're wondering why it's 两 and not 二，see our article on [["Er" and "liang"]])</span><span class="pinyin">Liǎng <em>gè</em> lǎopó </span><span class="trans">two wives</span>
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* 一 <em>个</em> 人 <span class="pinyin">yī <em>gè</em> rén</span><span class="trans">one person</span>
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* 三 <em>个</em> 苹果 手机 <span class="pinyin">Sān <em>gè</em> Píngguǒ shǒujī</span><span class="trans">three iPhones</span>
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* 四 <em>个</em> 朋友 <span class="pinyin">sì <em>gè</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans">four friends</span>
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* 五 <em>个</em> 星期 <span class="pinyin">Wǔ <em>gè</em> xīngqī</span><span class="trans">five weeks</span>
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* 三 <em>个</em> 苹果 手机 <span class="pinyin">sān <em>gè</em> Píngguǒ shǒujī</span><span class="trans">three iPhones</span>
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* 六 <em>个</em> 月 <span class="pinyin">Liù <em>gè</em> yuè </span><span class="trans">six months</span>
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* 五 <em>个</em> 星期 <span class="pinyin">wǔ <em>gè</em> xīngqī</span><span class="trans">five weeks</span>
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* 十 <em>个</em> 男人， 七 <em>个</em> 傻， 八 <em>个</em> 坏。<span class="pinyin">Shí <em>gè</em> nánrén, qī <em>gè</em> shǎ, bā <em>gè</em> huài.</span><span class="trans">ten men, seven are fools, and eight are bad</span>
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* 六 <em>个</em> 月 <span class="pinyin">liù <em>gè</em> yuè </span><span class="trans">six months</span>
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* 两 <em>个</em> 老婆<span class="pinyin">liǎng <em>gè</em>  lǎopo </span><span class="trans">two wives</span>
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* 十 <em>个</em> 男人， 七 <em>个</em> 傻， 八 <em>个</em> 坏。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">A line from a song</span><span class="pinyin">Shí <em>gè</em> nánrén, qī <em>gè</em> shǎ, bā <em>gè</em> huài.</span><span class="trans">Ten men: seven are fools, and eight are bad.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
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== Omitting the number ==
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== Omitting the Number ==
  
 
=== Structure ===  
 
=== Structure ===  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 (gè) by itself. This is equivalent to ''a'' or ''an'' in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot."
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If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 (gè) by itself. This is similar to "a" or "an" in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot." (The tone on 个 (gè) is normally somewhat de-emphasized in this usage, but still written as fourth tone. You don't need to stress about it, though.)
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
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* 他 是 <em>个</em> 老外 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè</em> lǎowài.</span><span class="trans">He is a foreigner.</span>
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* 他 是 <em>个</em> 老外。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè</em> lǎowài.</span><span class="trans">He is a foreigner.</span>
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* 我 有 <em>个</em> 儿子 。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒu <em>gè</em> érzi.</span><span class="trans">I have a son.</span>
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* 我 有 <em>个</em> 儿子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒu <em>gè</em> érzi.</span><span class="trans">I have a son.</span>
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* 她 是 <em>个</em> 好 老师 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè</em> hǎo lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">She is a good teacher.</span>
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* 她 是 <em>个</em> 好 老师。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè</em> hǎo lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">She is a good teacher.</span>
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* 你 想 吃 <em>个</em> 苹果 吗？<span class="pinyin"> xiǎng chī <em>gè</em> chéngzi.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to eat an orange.</span>
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* 你 想 吃 <em>个</em> 包子 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng chī <em>gè</em> bāozi ma?</span><span class="trans">Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun?</span>
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* 老师 ， 我 有 <em>个</em> 问题 。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu <em>gè</em> wèntí.</span><span class="trans">Teacher, I have a question.</span>
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* 老师 ， 我 有 <em>个</em> 问题。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu <em>gè</em> wèntí.</span><span class="trans">Teacher, I have a question.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 21-2) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 1|58}}
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* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 45-6) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385 →buy]
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|21-2}}
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* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 21) [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615 →buy]
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{{Source|Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)|45-6}}
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{{Source|Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition|21}}
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===
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[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
 
[[Category:A1 grammar points]]
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{{Basic Grammar|个|A1|Number + 个 + N|一 <em>个</em> 人 。|grammar point|ASGI0T9S}}
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{{HSK|HSK1}}{{2021-HSK|HSK1}}
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{{Basic Grammar|个|A1|Number + 个 + Noun|一 <em>个</em> 人 。|grammar point|ASGI0T9S}}
 
{{Similar|Measure words in quantity questions}}   
 
{{Similar|Measure words in quantity questions}}   
 
{{Similar|Measure words for counting}}   
 
{{Similar|Measure words for counting}}   

Latest revision as of 09:21, 20 April 2021

个 (gè) is the most commonly used measure word. It can be used in a pinch for any noun if you can't think of a more precise measure word. (Although you might not sound quite as smart, you'll still get your point across). Also, for many nouns, 个 (gè) is the only correct measure word.

Counting Nouns

Structure

The general structure for 个 (gè) and measure words in general is:

Number + 个 + Noun

Any time you want to state how many of a noun in Chinese, you probably need a measure word. First get used to how they are used with 个 (gè).

Examples

  • 一 个 人 yī gè rénone person
  • 四 个 朋友 sì gè péngyoufour friends
  • 三 个 苹果 手机 sān gè Píngguǒ shǒujīthree iPhones
  • 五 个 星期 wǔ gè xīngqīfive weeks
  • 六 个 月 liù gè yuè six months
  • 两 个 老婆liǎng gè lǎopo two wives
  • 十 个 男人， 七 个 傻， 八 个 坏。A line from a songShí gè nánrén, qī gè shǎ, bā gè huài.Ten men: seven are fools, and eight are bad.

Omitting the Number

Structure

Verb + 个 + Noun

If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 (gè) by itself. This is similar to "a" or "an" in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot." (The tone on 个 (gè) is normally somewhat de-emphasized in this usage, but still written as fourth tone. You don't need to stress about it, though.)

Examples

  • 他 是 个 老外。Tā shì gè lǎowài.He is a foreigner.
  • 我 有 个 儿子。Wǒ yǒu gè érzi.I have a son.
  • 她 是 个 好 老师。Tā shì gè hǎo lǎoshī.She is a good teacher.
  • 你 想 吃 个 包子 吗？Nǐ xiǎng chī gè bāozi ma?Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun?
  • 老师 ， 我 有 个 问题。Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu gè wèntí.Teacher, I have a question.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites

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