Measure word

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This is a very basic summary of measure words. If you want to go more in depth, look at the measure words for counting page.

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