Difference between revisions of "Measure word"

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{{AKA|量词 (liàngcí)|classifier}}
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Measure words are used together with [[numeral]]s to indicate the quantity of a noun, and sometimes even of an action. The general term for "measure word" in linguistics is "classifier," because measure words involve some kind of classification of the noun (or action) being counted.
  
 
== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
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* Used after numerals or demonstrative pronouns.
 
* Used after numerals or demonstrative pronouns.
 
* If the number is just one, it can be omitted; just the measure word is OK.
 
* If the number is just one, it can be omitted; just the measure word is OK.
* 半 before measure word means "half of". 半 after measure word means "... and a half"
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* 半 before measure word means "half of." 半 after measure word means .".. and a half"
 
* 多 and measure words
 
* 多 and measure words
** 多 in between numeral and measure word e.g. 十多个 means more than the number given but less than the next whole number. Like 'odd' in English e.g. "thirty-odd".
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** 多 in between numeral and measure word e.g. 十多个 means more than the number given but less than the next whole number. Like 'odd' in English e.g. "thirty-odd."
 
** 多 after the measure word simply means more than the number given
 
** 多 after the measure word simply means more than the number given
 
* Most measure words are single characters, but not all (need list of two-character measure words)
 
* Most measure words are single characters, but not all (need list of two-character measure words)
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*我 有 一 <em>只</em> 小 狗。
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*我 有 一 <em>只</em> 小 狗。<span class="trans">I have one small dog.</span>
*我 给 了 小 狗 一 <em>个</em> <strong>半</strong> 面包。
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*我 给 了 小 狗 一 <em>个</em> <strong>半</strong> 面包。<span class="trans">I gave the small dog one and a half pieces of bread.</span>
*小狗 吃 了 <strong>半</strong> <em>根</em> 香肠。
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*小狗 吃 了 <strong>半</strong> <em>根</em> 香肠。<span class="trans">The small dog ate half of a sausage.</span>
*冰箱 里 只 有 两 <em>块</em> 奶酪。
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*冰箱 里 只 有 两 <em>块</em> 奶酪。<span class="trans">There are only two pieces of cheese in the refrigerator.</span>
*我 很 饿,吃 了 很 大 一 <em>条</em> 鱼。
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*我 很 饿,吃 了 很 大 一 <em>条</em> 鱼。<span class="trans">I'm hungry. I could eat a whole fish.</span>
*我 看 到 一 <em>辆</em> 红色 的 法拉利。
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*我 看到 一 <em>辆</em> 红色 的 法拉利。<span class="trans">I saw a red Ferrari.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
*请 你 再 说 一 <em>遍</em>。
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*请 你 再 说 一 <em>遍</em>。<span class="trans">Please say it one more time.</span>
*我 到 上海 两 <em>次</em> 了。  
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*我 到 上海 两 <em>次</em> 了。 <span class="trans">I've come to Shanghai two times.</span>
*一 个 晚上 去 了 三 <em>趟</em> 厕所。
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*一 个 晚上 去 了 三 <em>趟</em> 厕所。<span class="trans">I went to the bathroom three times in one evening.</span>
*今天 有 两 <em>场</em> 比赛。
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*今天 有 两 <em>场</em> 比赛。<span class="trans">There are two games today.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
*每天 给 孩子 一 <em>块</em> 钱。
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*每天 给 孩子 一 <em>块</em> 钱。<span class="trans">Give the children one kuai every day.</span>
*你 应该 再 给 我 两 <em>元</em> 。  
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*你 应该 再 给 我 两 <em>元</em> 。 <span class="trans">You should give me two yuan again.</span>
*我 给 你 10元,你 应该 找 我 5 <em>角</em> 。
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*我 给 你 10元,你 应该 找 我 5 <em>角</em> 。<span class="trans">I gave you ten yuan, you should give me 5 five jiao in change.</span>
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
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{{Source|HSK Standard Course 4下|90}}
 
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp. 73-95) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
 
* [[A Practical Chinese Grammar For Foreigners (外国人实用汉语语法) ]] (pp. 73-95) [http://www.amazon.cn/mn/detailApp?_encoding=UTF8&tag=allset-23&linkCode=as2&asin=B001J0ADWA&camp=536&creative=3132&creativeASIN=B001J0ADWA →buy]
 
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 18) [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]
 
* [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 18) [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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[[Category:Measure words]]
 
[[Category:Measure words]]
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{{HSK|HSK4}}

Latest revision as of 04:51, 9 March 2019

Also known as: 量词 (liàngcí) and classifier.

Measure words are used together with numerals to indicate the quantity of a noun, and sometimes even of an action. The general term for "measure word" in linguistics is "classifier," because measure words involve some kind of classification of the noun (or action) being counted.

Notes

  • Measure words can be reduplicated to act as a sentence element. This has the meaning of 'every'.
  • Used after numerals or demonstrative pronouns.
  • If the number is just one, it can be omitted; just the measure word is OK.
  • 半 before measure word means "half of." 半 after measure word means .".. and a half"
  • 多 and measure words
    • 多 in between numeral and measure word e.g. 十多个 means more than the number given but less than the next whole number. Like 'odd' in English e.g. "thirty-odd."
    • 多 after the measure word simply means more than the number given
  • Most measure words are single characters, but not all (need list of two-character measure words)

Subcategories

Noun measure words

List

    • 一个面包
    • 两个会议
    • 三个人
    • 四个苹果
    • 五个办法
    • 六个词
    • 一只小狗
    • 两只鸡
    • 三只鞋子
    • 四只船
    • 一块肉
    • 两块蛋糕
    • 三块钱
    • 四块香皂
    • 一台电视
    • 两台电脑
    • 一条鱼
    • 两条腿
    • 三条路
    • 一辆公交车
    • 两辆地铁
    • 三辆自行车
    • 一根香肠
    • 两根香蕉
    • 一头猪
    • 两头牛

Examples

  • 我 有 一 小 狗。I have one small dog.
  • 我 给 了 小 狗 一 面包。I gave the small dog one and a half pieces of bread.
  • 小狗 吃 了 香肠。The small dog ate half of a sausage.
  • 冰箱 里 只 有 两 奶酪。There are only two pieces of cheese in the refrigerator.
  • 我 很 饿,吃 了 很 大 一 鱼。I'm hungry. I could eat a whole fish.
  • 我 看到 一 红色 的 法拉利。I saw a red Ferrari.

Verb measure words

List

Examples

  • 请 你 再 说 一 Please say it one more time.
  • 我 到 上海 两 了。 I've come to Shanghai two times.
  • 一 个 晚上 去 了 三 厕所。I went to the bathroom three times in one evening.
  • 今天 有 两 比赛。There are two games today.

Monetary measure words

List

Examples

  • 每天 给 孩子 一 钱。Give the children one kuai every day.
  • 你 应该 再 给 我 两 You should give me two yuan again.
  • 我 给 你 10元,你 应该 找 我 5 I gave you ten yuan, you should give me 5 five jiao in change.

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites