Types of measure words
Chinese measure words are divided into nominal measure words and verbal measure words.
Nominal measure words
Nominal measure words can be divided into the following types:
-classifiers proper;
-measure words;
-measurement units;
-indefinite measure words;
-mass-classifiers.
Classifiers proper
Classifiers proper are used with words that can be counted. For example, people, objects or occurrences.
Pay attention
Classifiers proper are also called "individual classifiers".
Examples
一个朋友
one friend
yí ge péngyou
那把雨伞
that umbrella
nà bă yŭsăn
The most commonly used measure word is 个 
, which also serves as a general measure word.
This measure word can be used when referring to people, organizations, indefinite objects, and all words that do not belong to any existing group.
, which also serves as a general measure word.
This measure word can be used when referring to people, organizations, indefinite objects, and all words that do not belong to any existing group. Pay attention
You can use 个 if you don't know the proper measure word.
Examples
五千个人
five thousand people
wŭqiān ge rén
一个东西
one thing
yí ge dōngxi
Some are used with only one type of nouns.
For example:
封 — measure word for letters and mails.
— measure word for letters and mails.Examples
一封信
a letter
yì fēng xìn
一封电子邮件
an email
yì fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn
But most measure words are used with several types of nouns.
For example, 件 is used with:
1) clothing.
is used with:
1) clothing.Examples
一件皮夹克
a jacket
yí jiàn píjiākè
2) matters, events.
Examples
最后一件事
the last matter
zuìhòu yí jiàn shì
Mass-classifiers
Mass-classifiers create a unit to measure an uncountable noun. For example, sugar or water.
Sugar can be counted in packs, boxes, sacks, etc.
Water can be counted in bottles, cups, buckets, etc.
Such measure words are also used in English.
Examples
九瓶啤酒
nine bottles of beer
jiǔ píng píjiǔ
一盒巧克力糖
a box of chocolates
yì hé qiǎokèlì táng
The same item can be used with more than one measure word.
Examples
一包茶
a pack of tea
yì bāo chá
一杯茶
a cup of tea
yì bēi chá
A feature of mass-classifiers is that they may be used on their own as a noun by adding the suffixes 子 or 儿 to them.
or 儿 to them.
Let's compare:
一个瓶子
一瓶葡萄酒
一瓶葡萄酒 The particle 的 is added after some mass-classifiers to convey the meaning "completely" or, "fully".
is added after some mass-classifiers to convey the meaning "completely" or, "fully".
Examples
一桌子的菜
A table full of dishes
yì zhuōzi de cài
一屋子的客人
A house full of guests
yì wūzi de kèrén
Measure words for pairs, groups and collections
They are used when referring to either a group of people or to more than two items.
Pay attention
The number of measure words for pairs, groups and collections is far less than the number of classifiers proper and mass-classifiers.
Here are some examples:
双
Examples
一双皮鞋
a pair of shoes
yì shuāng píxié
一双手
two hands
yì shuāng shŏu
副
Examples
一副眼镜
a pair of glasses
yí fù yănjìng
一副扑克牌
a pack of cards
yí fù pūkèpái
群
Examples
一群人
a group of people
yì qún rén
一群马
a herd of horses
yì qún mă
Measurement units
Measurement units are used to measure length, distance or weight. For example, kilogram, kilometer.
Examples
一寸土地
one inch of land
yí cùn tǔdì
两斤苹果
two pounds of apples
liǎng jīn píngguǒ
Indefinite measure words
Indefinite measure words are used when the exact quantity is not specified and to indicate "a little", "a few", or "some".
Examples
一些东西
some things
yìxiē dōngxi
一点水
a little water
yìdiǎn shuǐ
Verbal measure words
Verbal measure words are used for counting the number of times an action occurs.
In English, this measure word is "times". However, in Chinese different measure words are used for different actions.
Scheme
verb
number
measure word
(object)
Examples
再说一遍
Say it one more time
zài shuō yí biàn
我得去趟厕所
I need to go to the toilet
wŏ děi qù tàng cèsuŏ
Some nouns can also serve as measure word for verbs.
Examples
看了一眼
took one look (眼 — eye)
kàn le yì yǎn
说一声
to say something (声 — sound)
shuō yì shēng
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