Measure word "ge"

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.

General Structure

Structure

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

Num. + 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 (gè).

Examples

  • 老婆 (If you're wondering why it's 两 and not 二,see our article on "Er" and "liang")Liǎng lǎopó two wives
  • 苹果 手机 Sān Píngguǒ shǒujīthree iPhones
  • 星期 xīngqīfive weeks
  • Liù yuè six months
  • 男人, 七 傻, 八 坏。Shí 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 equivalent to a or an in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot."

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 苹果 吗? xiǎng chī chéngzi.I'd like to eat an orange.
  • 老师 , 我 有 问题 。Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu wèntí.Teacher, I have a question.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites