Mandarin Monday: The 15 Most Common Chinese Measure Words

advertisement

I often find myself stuck when quantifying nouns in Chinese sentences, reverting back to the universal measure word 个 ge. Even though my Chinese friends try to be polite by saying that 个 can be used to classify almost every noun, I know that that's not the case. Thus goes the ever-frustrating world of measure words, or 量词 liàngcí.

Chinese measure words total about 150 according to Wikipedia (VPN on), which is an awful lot to remember just to ensure that you're referring to an item using the correct classifier. Luckily, you only really need to know a fraction of that to have a good grip on measure words and their related nouns. Listed in alphabetical order below are the 15 most commonly used measure words and examples of when you might use them:

本 běn

For bound items like books (书 shū), magazines (杂志 zázhì), newspapers (报纸 bàozhǐ), notebooks (本子běnzi). 

部 bù

For cellphones (手机 shǒujī], or sequels of a book/movie.

份 fèn

For bundles or batches, like servings of food, multi-page documents, jobs.

家 jiā

As a noun, 家 means “home” or “family.” But as a measure word, it is used for families or business establishments (like bars, restaurants, and shops)

口 kǒu

This word means “mouth” and as a measure word, it is used for things with a mouth like people or family members (with the idea of “mouth to feed”), or an opening like wells and cannons.

块 kuài

For chunks or big pieces of something (stones, wood), or for portions produced by cutting, tearing, or breaking (cake, bread, soap), or for the renminbi (when informally spoken) or certain paper money. Also, for some reason, for wrist watches.

辆 liàng

For wheeled vehicles such as bikes (自行车 zìxíngchē), electric bikes (电动车 diàndòngchē), buses (公共汽车 gōnggòngqìchē), cars (车 chē), trucks (卡车 kǎchē) but not trains.

瓶 píng, 杯 bēi

These words are handy when you go to a bar/restaurant. 瓶 means “bottle” (like “one bottled water” 一瓶水 yī píng shuǐ) while 杯 means “glass” (like “a glass of red wine” 一杯红酒 yī bēi hóngjiǔ).

advertisement

首 shǒu

For songs (歌 gē) or poems (诗 shī).

双 shuāng

For items in pairs such as chopsticks (筷子 kuàizi), socks (袜子 wàzi), shoes (鞋 xié), gloves (手套 shǒutào), eyes (眼睛 yǎnjing).

条 tiáo

For words/objects/items associated with the ideas of long, narrow, skinny such as roads, rivers, pants. Also used for elongated and slippery animals (snakes and fish).

位 wèi

Used to refer people in a proper/polite way.

张 zhāng

For flat objects (pieces of paper, tickets, tables, CDs) regardless of size. Also used for photos (also digital photos)

只 zhī

The word means “single” or “only” hence it is a classifier for parts of a pair. It is also used for certain animals such as cats, tigers, birds, and dogs. 只 can also classify vessels like “boat” or “luggage.” 

支 zhī

For long, stick-like objects like pencil (铅笔 qiānbǐ), chopstick (筷子 kuàizi), drinking straw (吸管 xīguǎn), bamboo (竹子 zhúzi), cigarette (香烟 xiāngyān).

Other resources to aid your learning of classifiers include Cheng and Tsui's Chinese Measure Word Dictionary (scan QR code below).

This article originally appeared on our sister site Jingkids International.

READ MORE

Images: Eepeng Cheong (via Unsplash)

advertisement

Top Stories This Week

Beijingers Are Buzzing About