Difference between revisions of "Measure words for verbs"

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*去 过 两 <em>次</em> <span class="pinyin">qù guo liǎng <em>cì</em></span><span class="trans">have been there twice.</span>
 
*去 过 两 <em>次</em> <span class="pinyin">qù guo liǎng <em>cì</em></span><span class="trans">have been there twice.</span>
*说 了 很 多 <em>次</em> <span class="pinyin"> <em>cì</em></span><span class="trans">have said it many times.</span>
+
*说 了 很 多 <em>次</em> <span class="trans">have said it many times.</span>
 
*读 两 <em>遍</em> <span class="trans">Read it twice.</span>
 
*读 两 <em>遍</em> <span class="trans">Read it twice.</span>
 
*已经 听 了 十几 <em>遍</em> <span class="trans">have already listened to it ten times.</span>
 
*已经 听 了 十几 <em>遍</em> <span class="trans">have already listened to it ten times.</span>
 
*打 了 三 <em>下</em><span class="pinyin">dǎ le sān <em>xià</em></span><span class="trans">Hit  
 
*打 了 三 <em>下</em><span class="pinyin">dǎ le sān <em>xià</em></span><span class="trans">Hit  
 
three times.</span>
 
three times.</span>
*拍 它 几 <em>下</em> <span class="pinyin">pāi liù <em>xià</em></span><span class="trans">Pat it a few times.</span>
+
*拍 它 几 <em>下</em> <span class="pinyin">pāi <em>xià</em></span><span class="trans">Pat it a few times.</span>
  
 
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Revision as of 03:50, 27 July 2017

When a verb is done more than once, it also requires a measure word to accompany it. This way the measure word is acting as a way to count the frequency or re-occurrence of an action.

Structure

Verb + Number + Measure Word

The grammar pattern is very similar to English. For example, "看三次" and "saw three times" mirror each other in structure. In Chinese sentences, these measure words can either come after the verb (as a complement) or before the word (as an adverb). You should also know that, like nouns, some verbs have special measure words to go with them. The basic verbal measure word, however, is 次.

Examples

  • 去 过 两 qù guo liǎng have been there twice.
  • 说 了 很 多 have said it many times.
  • 读 两 Read it twice.
  • 已经 听 了 十几 have already listened to it ten times.
  • 打 了 三 dǎ le sān xiàHit

three times.

  • 拍 它 几 pāi xiàPat it a few times.

See also