Difference between revisions of "Noun measure word"

Revision as of 04:14, 25 April 2017

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Also known as: 名量词 (míngliàngcí).

As the name suggests, these are measure words that are only used for nouns.

Measure words can also specify a quantity, portion or shape, the same way the English words "piece," "slice," and "wedge" can indicate number and shape.
Measure words can't be used with nouns of quantity such as 天, 年, 岁, 课. You can think of these words as being their own measure words.
Measure words for length, capacity and weight can be made into compound measure words such as 千瓦小时.
All nouns should be learned with the corresponding measure words. Note that some nouns can use many different kinds of measure words (depending on shape, like above). There is not a 1:1 ratio between nouns and measure words. Also note that it is possible to just use "个" but that comes off as not as accurate.
The indefinite measure words "点" and "些" are more vague, meaning "some" or "a little."

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 == Notes ==
-* Measure words can also specify a quantity, portion or shape, the same way the English words "piece", "slice", and "wedge" can indicate number and shape.
+* Measure words can also specify a quantity, portion or shape, the same way the English words "piece," "slice," and "wedge" can indicate number and shape.
 * Measure words can't be used with nouns of quantity such as 天, 年, 岁, 课. You can think of these words as being their own measure words.
 * Measure words for length, capacity and weight can be made into compound measure words such as 千瓦小时.