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Mandarin Common Measure Words (量词)

High-frequency Chinese classifiers — 个、本、只、条、杯、辆 and when to use them.

12 cards· by GuruOwl

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  1. 01
    Why do Chinese nouns need measure words?
    Numbers/demonstratives require a classifier: number + MW + noun (三本书).
    zhmeasure
  2. 02
    个 gè
    General/default classifier for many nouns (people, issues, etc.): 一个人
    zhmeasure
  3. 03
    本 běn
    Bound printed matter: books, magazines — 两本书
    zhmeasure
  4. 04
    只 zhī
    Many animals (and one of a pair): 一只猫、一只鞋
    zhmeasure
  5. 05
    条 tiáo
    Long flexible things: fish, roads, pants, rivers — 一条鱼、一条路
    zhmeasure
  6. 06
    张 zhāng
    Flat things: paper, tickets, tables, cards — 一张票
    zhmeasure
  7. 07
    杯 bēi / 瓶 píng / 碗 wǎn
    cup/glass of; bottle of; bowl of — 一杯水、一瓶啤酒、一碗饭
    zhmeasure
  8. 08
    辆 liàng
    Wheeled vehicles: 一辆车、一辆自行车
    zhmeasure
  9. 09
    件 jiàn
    Clothes (upper), matters/affairs: 一件衣服、一件事
    zhmeasure
  10. 10
    家 jiā
    Businesses/households: 一家饭店、一家人
    zhmeasure
  11. 11
    些 xiē
    Some / a few (plural-ish): 一些书、这些
    zhmeasure
  12. 12
    Translate: “three tickets” / “two cups of coffee”
    三张票 sān zhāng piào / 两杯咖啡 liǎng bēi kāfēi (use 两 not 二 with MW)
    zhexamples