Noun

You may have learned these as "person, place, or thing." We're going to go into a little more depth.

Notes

名词

Nouns have four main characteristics:

1. The majority of the time, they are modified by a measure word.
2. They can act as a subject, an object, or a complement, but never as a result. It can occasionally be an adverbial, but not often.
3. They may not be modified by the negative adverb "不".
4. They may not be reduplicated (unless it's for a cutesy effect, usually with small kids).

Further Explanation

Measure Words

Every noun in Chinese has a measure word that it can use, as well as the general "个". When quantifying nouns, they must have a measure word. If you are just being general, it isn't required.

EXAMPLES

Roles

In a sentence, Chinese nouns take the same roles that nouns in English do. They are often subjects and objects of verbs, but they can occasionally be complements or adverbials. As stated above, nouns are never results.

EXAMPLES

不

Nouns aren't negated by "不" because "不" is used to negate verbs. You can't say "not dog". It just doesn't make sense. The same goes in Chinese.

EXAMPLES

Reduplication

Unlike verbs and adjectives, nouns aren't reduplicated in Chinese. While with adjectives and verbs reduplication can change the meaning, with nouns it just makes you sound silly.

EXAMPLES

Subcategories

• Proper nouns and common nouns
• Position nouns
• Location nouns
• Time nouns

See also

• Measure words
• Pronouns

Sources and further reading

• 外国人实用汉语语法(中英文对照) (pp. 16 - 26)
• Basic Patterns of Chinese Grammar (pp. 32 - 38)
• 简明汉语语法学习手册 (Chinese Grammar Without Tears) (pp. 30 - 39)
• 实用汉语语法 (pp. 48 - 49)
• Modern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide (pp. 22 - 28)