Measure Words
Measure words (classifiers) used between numbers and nouns
I can use common measure words with nouns
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
我有两只猫。
I have two cats.
请给我三本书。
Please give me three books.
这个人是我的朋友。
This person is my friend.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
量词 — Measure Words
Chinese requires a measure word (classifier) between a number/demonstrative and a noun. The most common is 个 (gè), used as a general-purpose classifier.
| 量词 | Pinyin | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 个 | gè | general (people, objects) | 一个人 yí gè rén |
| 本 | běn | books, volumes | 三本书 sān běn shū |
| 杯 | bēi | cups, glasses | 两杯茶 liǎng bēi chá |
| 只 | zhī | animals | 一只猫 yì zhī māo |
| 件 | jiàn | clothing, matters | 一件衣服 yí jiàn yīfu |
Key rule: You cannot say *一书 — you must say 一本书. When unsure, 个 is acceptable as a fallback.
Common Error Patterns
Omitted measure word between number and noun
Always place a measure word between a number/demonstrative and a noun: 一个人, not *一人
Used wrong measure word for the noun category
Learn specific classifiers: 本 for books, 只 for animals, 杯 for drinks. When unsure, use 个
我有两只猫。
I have two cats.
只 (zhī) is the measure word for animals. 两只猫 (liǎng zhī māo) — 'two cats'. Note: use 两 (liǎng) not 二 (èr) before measure words.
请给我三本书。
Please give me three books.
本 (běn) is the measure word for books. 三本书 (sān běn shū) — 'three books'.
这个人是我的朋友。
This person is my friend.
个 (gè) is the general measure word used with 这 (zhè, this) and 那 (nà, that): 这个人 (zhè gè rén) — 'this person'.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises