Difference between revisions of "Measure word "ge""

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{{Grammar Box}}  
 
{{Grammar Box}}  
The [[measure word]] 个 (ge) is the most common 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 (ge) ''is'' the only correct measure word.
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个 () 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 () ''is'' the only correct measure word.
  
== General Structure ==
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== Counting Nouns ==
  
 
=== Structure ===  
 
=== Structure ===  
  
The general structure for 个 (ge)--''and measure words in general''--is:
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The general structure for 个 () and measure words in general is:
  
 
<div class="jiegou">
 
<div class="jiegou">
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</div>
 
</div>
  
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 (ge).
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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 ().
  
 
=== Examples ===
 
=== Examples ===
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<div class="liju">
 
<div class="liju">
  
* 一 <em>个</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>gè </em> qiú</span><span class="trans">one ball</span>
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* 一 <em>个</em> <span class="pinyin"><em>gè</em> rén</span><span class="trans">one person</span>
* <em>个</em> 人  <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> rén</span><span class="trans">two people</span>
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* <em>个</em> 朋友 <span class="pinyin"><em>gè</em> péngyou</span><span class="trans">four friends</span>
* 三 <em>个</em> 苹果 <span class="pinyin">Sān <em>gè </em> píngguǒ</span><span class="trans">three apples</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>
* 四 <em>个</em> 三明治 <span class="pinyin">Sì <em>gè </em> sānmíngzhì</span><span class="trans">four sandwiches</span>
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* 五 <em>个</em> 星期 <span class="pinyin"><em>gè</em> xīngqī</span><span class="trans">five weeks</span>
* 五 <em>个</em> 星期 <span class="pinyin"><em>gè </em> xīngqí</span><span class="trans">five weeks</span>
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* 六 <em>个</em> <span class="pinyin">liù <em>gè</em> yuè </span><span class="trans">six months</span>
* 六 <em>个</em> 杯子 <span class="pinyin">Liù <em>gè </em> bēizi</span><span class="trans">six cups/glasses</span>
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* <em>个</em> 老婆<span class="pinyin">liǎng <em>gè</em> lǎopo </span><span class="trans">two wives</span>
* <em>个</em> 女朋友<span class="pinyin"><em>gè </em> nǚ péngyǒu</span><span class="trans">seven girlfriends</span>
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* 十 <em>个</em> 男人, 七 <em></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>
* 十 <em>个</em> 小孩 <span class="pinyin">Bāshí <em></em> xiǎohái</span><span class="trans">eighty children</span>
 
* 一 百 <em>个</em> 美 女 <span class="pinyin">Yībǎi <em>gè </em> měinǚ</span><span class="trans">one hundred beautiful girls</span>
 
* 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>
 
  
 
</div>
 
</div>
  
== Omitting the number ==
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== Omitting the Number ==
  
 
=== Structure ===  
 
=== Structure ===  
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</div>
 
</div>
  
If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 (ge) 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 () 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">
  
* 他 是 <em>个</em> 好人 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè </em> hǎorén.</span><span class="trans">He is a good person.</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>
* 那 不 是 <em>个</em> 苹果 。<span class="pinyin">Nà bùshì <em>gè </em> píngguǒ.</span><span class="trans">That is not an apple.</span>
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* 我 <em>个</em> 儿子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒu <em>gè</em> érzi.</span><span class="trans">I have a son.</span>
* 他 是 <em>个</em> 法国 人 。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè </em> fàguó rén.</span><span class="trans">He is a French person.</span>
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* 是 <em>个</em> 好 老师。<span class="pinyin">shì <em>gè</em> hǎo lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">She is a good teacher.</span>
* 这 是 <em>个</em> 手机。<span class="pinyin">Zhè shì <em>gè </em> shǒujī.</span><span class="trans">This is a cell phone.</span>
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* 想 吃 <em>个</em> 包子 吗?<span class="pinyin">xiǎng chī <em>gè</em> bāozi ma?</span><span class="trans">Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun?</span>
* 我 爸爸 是 <em>个</em> 老板。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ bàba shì <em>gè </em> lǎobǎn.</span><span class="trans">My dad is a boss.</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>
* 是 <em>个</em> 好 老师 。<span class="pinyin">shì <em>gè </em> hǎo lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">You are a good teacher.</span>
 
* 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>
 
* 给 我 <em>个</em> 面包 。<span class="pinyin">Gěi wǒ <em>gè </em> miànbāo.</span><span class="trans">Give me a bun.</span>
 
* 我 想 吃 <em>个</em> 橙子 。<span class="pinyin">xiǎng chī <em>gè </em> chéngzi.</span><span class="trans">I'd like to eat an orange.</span>
 
* 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 ===
  
* [[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}}
* [[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}}
* [[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]]
{{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}}   
 
{{Similar|Measure words to differentiate}}
 
{{Similar|Measure words to differentiate}}
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{{Similar|Age with "sui"}}
 
{{Similar|Ordinal numbers with "di"}}     
 
{{Similar|Ordinal numbers with "di"}}     
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{{Rel char|个}}
 
{{POS|Numbers}}
 
{{POS|Numbers}}
 
{{Used for| Expressing quantity}}
 
{{Used for| Expressing quantity}}

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

  • rénone person
  • 朋友 péngyoufour friends
  • 苹果 手机 sān Píngguǒ shǒujīthree iPhones
  • 星期 xīngqīfive weeks
  • liù yuè six months
  • 老婆liǎng lǎopo two wives
  • 男人, 七 傻, 八 坏。A line from a songShí nánrén, qī shǎ, bā 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 老外。Tā shì lǎowài.He is a foreigner.
  • 我 有 儿子。Wǒ yǒu érzi.I have a son.
  • 她 是 好 老师。Tā shì hǎo lǎoshī.She is a good teacher.
  • 你 想 吃 包子 吗?Nǐ xiǎng chī bāozi ma?Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun?
  • 老师 , 我 有 问题。Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu wèntí.Teacher, I have a question.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites