Difference between revisions of "Measure word "ge""

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=== Books ===
 
=== Books ===
  
* [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 45 - 46) [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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* [[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]
  
 
=== Websites ===
 
=== Websites ===

Revision as of 05:55, 30 January 2012

The measure word 个 (ge) is the most common measure word. It can be used for any noun if you can't think of a more precise measure word. Also, for many nouns, 个 is the correct measure word.

General structure

The general structure for 个 (and measure words in general) is:

Number + 个 + Noun

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.

Some examples:

  • 苹果
  • 三明治
  • 八十 诗人

Omitting the number

If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 by itself. This is equivalent to a or an in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot."

Some examples of that:

  • 他 是 好人。
  • 那 不 是 苹果。
  • 我 是 英国人。

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites