{"id":1937,"date":"2022-05-23T10:21:10","date_gmt":"2022-05-23T02:21:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=1937"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:53:37","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:53:37","slug":"chinese-measure-words-you-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/chinese-measure-words-you-need-to-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Unlock Chinese: Essential Measure Words You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Chinese is now a widely spoken and highly developed language in the world. More people are using Chinese to communicate in their daily life. It is becoming more international to the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The measure words are crucial in Chinese grammar as you need them before every noun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, foreign learners always get sick of such complicated Chinese grammar. One of the reasons is the over a hundred measure words for Chinese grammar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, we will talk about the standard Chinese measure words that you can easily learn. Let’s dive deep!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Measure Word?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Measure word is called \u91cf\u8bcd(li\u00e0ng c\u00ed) in Chinese. Many English speakers might find it familiar as it is a way to classify the type of object being discussed. For example, you would say a “cup” of coffee or a “loaf” of bread. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference? Chinese has a lot more measure words than English. In fact, you’ll need a Chinese measure word for every noun. What’s more, each noun could have one or more Chinese measure words!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s look at some examples showing the differences between English and Chinese measure words. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We could say “three houses” in English. But in Chinese, we need to say “three + measure word + houses.” One of the measure words for the house is \u680b (d\u00f2ng), and the Chinese word for “house” is \u623f\u5b50(f\u00e1ng zi). Thus, you would say \u6211\u6709\u4e09\u680b\u623f\u5b50\uff08w\u01d2 y\u01d2u s\u0101n d\u00f2ng f\u00e1ng zi), which translates to “I have three houses.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Generic Measure Word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is one “generic” measure word that is common in the Chinese language. You can use it when the actual measure word is unknown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This measure word is “\u4e2a\u201c(g\u00e8). It is a measure word for people, but it is also frequently used for things. You can even use it when there are other more appropriate words for these objects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Common Measure Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Today, we are going to look at some common measure words. Here are 15 commonly used measure words. Let’s have a deep dive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1) \u4e2a (g\u00e8)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: People or Objects
Example: \u8fd9\u91cc\u6709\u4e00\u4e2a\u4eba\u3002\uff08zh\u00e8 l\u01d0 y\u01d2u y\u012b ge r\u00e9n.)
Translation: There is a person here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2) \u5757 (ku\u00e0i)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For:
a) Pieces of thing. Ex: Cloth, Cake, Soap, etc.
b) Money and currency units (colloquial)
Example: \u6211\u60f3\u5403\u4e00\u5757\u86cb\u7cd5\u3002(w\u01d2 xi\u01ceng ch\u012b y\u012b ku\u00e0i d\u00e0n g\u0101o.)
Translation: I want to eat a piece of cake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3) \u53ea (zh\u012b)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Certain animals such as birds. One of a pair, some utensils, boats, etc.
Example: \u4e00\u53ea\u5c0f\u9e1f\u5728\u5929\u4e0a\u98de\u3002(y\u012b zh\u012b xi\u01ceo di\u01ceo z\u00e0i ti\u0101n sh\u00e0ng f\u0113i.)
Translation: A bird is flying in the sky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4) \u672c (b\u011bn)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Books, parts of a serial, etc.
Example: \u6211\u6709\u4e00\u672c\u4e66\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u01d2u y\u012b b\u011bn sh\u016b.)
Translation: I have a book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5) \u8f86 (li\u00e0ng)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Vehicles
Example: \u6211\u6709\u4e00\u8f86\u8f66\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u01d2u y\u012b li\u00e0ng ch\u0113.)
Translation: I have a car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6) \u74f6 (p\u00edng)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Quantity contained in a bottle, vase, jar, or flask.
Example: \u628a\u90a3\u74f6\u6c34\u7ed9\u6211\u3002(b\u01ce n\u00e0 p\u00edng shu\u01d0 g\u011bi w\u01d2.)
Translation: Give me that bottle of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7) \u676f (b\u0113i)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Certain containers of liquids, glass, and cups.
Example: \u8bf7\u7ed9\u6211\u4e00\u676f\u6c34\uff0c\u8c22\u8c22\u3002(q\u01d0ng g\u011bi w\u01d2 y\u012b b\u0113i shu\u01d0, xi\u00e8 xie.)
Translation: Please give me a glass of water, thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8) \u53cc (shu\u0101ng)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Pairs (of shoes, socks, chopsticks, etc.)
Example: \u8fd9\u662f\u6211\u6700\u559c\u6b22\u7684\u4e00\u53cc\u978b\u3002(zh\u00e8 sh\u00ec w\u01d2 zu\u00ec x\u01d0 huan de y\u012b shu\u0101ng xi\u00e9.)
Translation: This is my favorite pair of shoes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9) \u4ef6 (ji\u00e0n)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Clothes, events, things, etc.
Example: \u6211\u6709\u4e00\u4ef6\u5f88\u597d\u770b\u7684\u88d9\u5b50\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u01d2u y\u012b ji\u00e0n h\u011bn h\u01ceo k\u00e0n de q\u00fan zi.)
Translation: I have a nice dress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10) \u5f20 (zh\u0101ng)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For:
a) Flat objects and sheets (bed, desk, paper, etc.).
b) Certain body parts (face, mouth)
Example: \u8bf7\u628a\u90a3\u5f20\u7eb8\u8f6c\u4ea4\u7ed9\u6211,\u8c22\u8c22\u3002(q\u01d0ng b\u01ce n\u00e0 zh\u0101ng zh\u01d0 zhu\u01cen ji\u0101o g\u011bi w\u01d2, xi\u00e8 xie.)
Translation: Please pass me that paper, thank you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11) \u7897 (w\u01cen)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Measurement of food and drink (bowl)
Example: \u5148\u559d\u8fd9\u4e00\u7897\u7ca5\u3002(xi\u0101n h\u0113 zh\u00e8 y\u012b w\u01cen zh\u014du.)
Translation: Drink this bowl of porridge first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12) \u79cd (zh\u01d2ng)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Types, kinds, sorts.
Example: \u6211\u6709\u5f88\u591a\u79cd\u4e0d\u540c\u989c\u8272\u7684\u88d9\u5b50\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u01d2u h\u011bn du\u014d zh\u01d2ng b\u00f9 t\u00f3ng y\u00e1n s\u00e8 de q\u00fan zi.)
Translation: I have many different kinds of skirts in different colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13) \u5339 (p\u01d0)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For:
a) Horses, mules.
b) Bolts of cloth.
Example: \u6211\u6709\u4e00\u5339\u597d\u770b\u7684\u9a6c\u3002(w\u01d2 y\u01d2u y\u012b p\u01d0 h\u01ceo k\u00e0n de m\u01ce.)
Translation: I have a good-looking horse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

14) \u5934 (t\u00f3u)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For:
a) Certain domestic animals (cattle, mules, pigs, etc.)
b) Garlic
Example: \u8fd9\u4eba\u7684\u813e\u6c14\u5014\u7684\u50cf\u5934\u9a74\u4e00\u6837\u3002 (zh\u00e8 r\u00e9n de p\u00ed qi ju\u00e9 de xi\u00e0ng t\u00f3u l\u01d8 y\u012b y\u00e0ng.
Translation: This man’s temper is as stubborn as a donkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15) \u6761 (ti\u00e1o)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Used For: Long, narrow or thin objects (ribbon, river, road, trousers, etc.
Example: \u6211\u6293\u5230\u4e00\u6761\u9c7c\u4e86\u3002(w\u01d2 zhu\u0101 d\u00e0o y\u012b ti\u00e1o y\u00fa le.
Translation: I caught a fish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Different Types of Chinese Measures Words for Some Words<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There will be different types of measure words for the same noun in Chinese. You’ll have to know what you want to convey in the sentence to choose the correct measure word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let’s have an example, “cake.” To translate this noun with a measure word into Chinese, you have to first identify the noun, which is “cake \u86cb\u7cd5 (d\u00e0ng\u0101o<\/em>).” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is the cake? Is it a whole cake or a piece of cake?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you want to talk about one piece, our phrase should be \u4e00\u5757\u86cb\u7cd5\uff08y\u012b ku\u00e0i d\u00e0n g\u0101o). If we want to talk about a whole cake, the phrase should be \u4e00\u7c92\u86cb\u7cd5(y\u012b l\u00ec d\u00e0n g\u0101o).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is why Chinese is so complicated, as there are different types of grammar for just a short sentence or even a short phrase. Fret not – you’ll discover more as you walk through the Chinese language learning journey with us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Learning the measure word for Chinese is essential as it is used for every noun. When used right, you\u2019ll be able to show a good mastery of the Chinese language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope this content shares valuable Chinese language information with you. In Maayot<\/a>, we bring bite-sized content for Chinese learners so you can learn better. Subscribe to us to learn more! Or, you can also read our interesting articles below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n