Measure word "ge"

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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 is the only 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.

Examples

  • one ball
  • (If you're wondering why it's 两 and not 二,see our article on "Er" and "liang"two people
  • 苹果 three apples
  • 三明治 four sandwiches
  • 星期 five weeks
  • 杯子 six cups/glasses
  • 八十 诗人 eighty poets
  • 一百 美女 one hundred beautiful girls
  • 男人, 七 傻, 八 ten men, seven are fools, and eight are bad

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."

Examples

  • 他 是 好人 。He is a good person.
  • 那 不 是 苹果 。That is not an apple.
  • 他 是 个 法国 人 。He is a Frenchman.
  • 我 是 白痴 。I am an idiot.
  • 你 是 好 老师 。You are a good teacher.
  • 我 有 儿子 。I have a son.
  • 给 我 面包 。Give me a bun.
  • 我 想 吃 橙子 。I'd like to eat an orange.
  • 老师 , 我 有 个 问题 。Teacher, I have a question.
  • 找 个 女人 结婚 吧 。Find a woman and get married.

See also

Sources and further reading

Books

Websites