If you've ever wondered why you can't just say "三书" (three books) in Chinese, you're not alone. Chinese requires measure words (量词, liàngcí) between numbers and nouns. You must say "三本书" (three books).
Measure words are one of the most essential—and initially confusing—aspects of Chinese grammar. But once you understand the logic behind them, they become much easier to master. This guide will teach you 30+ essential measure words, when to use each one, and how to avoid common mistakes in your IGCSE exams.
Why Chinese Uses Measure Words
English actually has measure words too—we just don't use them as consistently. Think about:
- A piece of paper
- A slice of bread
- A cup of coffee
- A herd of cattle
Chinese takes this concept and applies it to all countable nouns. The measure word you choose depends on the shape, size, or category of the object. This system helps Chinese speakers visualize what's being discussed and adds precision to the language.
💡 Key Insight:
Measure words aren't random—they're based on the physical characteristics of objects. Once you understand the categories, choosing the right measure word becomes intuitive.
个 (gè): The Universal Measure Word
Good news: when you're not sure which measure word to use, 个 (gè) is often acceptable. It's the most common measure word in Chinese and works for many objects, especially people and small items.
When to Use 个:
1. 一个人 (yí gè rén) - one person
2. 两个苹果 (liǎng gè píngguǒ) - two apples
3. 三个问题 (sān gè wèntí) - three questions
4. 四个月 (sì gè yuè) - four months
5. 五个小时 (wǔ gè xiǎoshí) - five hours
6. 六个国家 (liù gè guójiā) - six countries
7. 七个朋友 (qī gè péngyou) - seven friends
8. 八个鸡蛋 (bā gè jīdàn) - eight eggs
9. 九个学生 (jiǔ gè xuésheng) - nine students
10. 十个汉堡 (shí gè hànbǎo) - ten hamburgers
Measure Words by Category
📄 Flat Things - 张 (zhāng)
Use 张 for flat, thin objects like paper, tables, and beds.
一张纸 (yì zhāng zhǐ) - one piece of paper
两张桌子 (liǎng zhāng zhuōzi) - two tables
三张床 (sān zhāng chuáng) - three beds
四张照片 (sì zhāng zhàopiàn) - four photos
五张票 (wǔ zhāng piào) - five tickets
📏 Long Things - 条 (tiáo)
Use 条 for long, narrow objects like roads, rivers, fish, and pants.
一条路 (yì tiáo lù) - one road
两条河 (liǎng tiáo hé) - two rivers
三条鱼 (sān tiáo yú) - three fish
四条裤子 (sì tiáo kùzi) - four pairs of pants
五条狗 (wǔ tiáo gǒu) - five dogs
📚 Bound Items - 本 (běn)
Use 本 for bound items like books, magazines, and notebooks.
一本书 (yì běn shū) - one book
两本杂志 (liǎng běn zázhì) - two magazines
三本笔记本 (sān běn bǐjìběn) - three notebooks
四本词典 (sì běn cídiǎn) - four dictionaries
五本护照 (wǔ běn hùzhào) - five passports
👥 People - 位 (wèi) / 个 (gè)
Use 位 (wèi) for formal/respectful contexts, 个 (gè) for casual contexts.
一位老师 (yí wèi lǎoshī) - one teacher (formal)
两位客人 (liǎng wèi kèrén) - two guests (formal)
三个朋友 (sān gè péngyou) - three friends (casual)
🐾 Animals - 只 (zhī)
Use 只 for most animals, especially small ones.
一只猫 (yì zhī māo) - one cat
两只鸟 (liǎng zhī niǎo) - two birds
三只老虎 (sān zhī lǎohǔ) - three tigers
四只兔子 (sì zhī tùzi) - four rabbits
五只蚂蚁 (wǔ zhī mǎyǐ) - five ants
🚗 Vehicles - 辆 (liàng)
Use 辆 for vehicles with wheels.
一辆车 (yí liàng chē) - one car
两辆自行车 (liǎng liàng zìxíngchē) - two bicycles
三辆公共汽车 (sān liàng gōnggòng qìchē) - three buses
🥤 Containers - 杯/瓶/碗 (bēi/píng/wǎn)
Use container-specific measure words for drinks and food.
一杯水 (yì bēi shuǐ) - one cup of water
两杯咖啡 (liǎng bēi kāfēi) - two cups of coffee
三瓶啤酒 (sān píng píjiǔ) - three bottles of beer
四瓶可乐 (sì píng kělè) - four bottles of cola
五碗饭 (wǔ wǎn fàn) - five bowls of rice
六碗面 (liù wǎn miàn) - six bowls of noodles
🔄 Actions - 次 (cì) / 遍 (biàn)
次 (cì) = number of times (frequency)
遍 (biàn) = from beginning to end (completeness)
去过一次 (qùguo yí cì) - went once
Focus: frequency
看了一遍 (kànle yí biàn) - read through once (completely)
Focus: completeness
Quick Reference: 30 Most Common Measure Words
| Measure Word | Used For | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 个 (gè) | General, people | 人、苹果、问题 |
| 张 (zhāng) | Flat things | 纸、桌子、床 |
| 条 (tiáo) | Long things | 路、河、鱼 |
| 本 (běn) | Bound items | 书、杂志 |
| 只 (zhī) | Animals | 猫、鸟、老虎 |
| 辆 (liàng) | Vehicles | 车、自行车 |
| 杯 (bēi) | Cups | 水、咖啡 |
| 瓶 (píng) | Bottles | 啤酒、可乐 |
| 碗 (wǎn) | Bowls | 饭、面 |
| 件 (jiàn) | Clothing, matters | 衣服、事情 |
How to Choose the Right Measure Word
Decision Flowchart:
- 1. Is it a person? → Use 个 (casual) or 位 (formal)
- 2. Is it flat? → Use 张
- 3. Is it long and narrow? → Use 条
- 4. Is it bound (book-like)? → Use 本
- 5. Is it an animal? → Use 只
- 6. Is it a vehicle? → Use 辆
- 7. Is it in a container? → Use the container word (杯/瓶/碗)
- 8. Not sure? → Use 个 (it works for most things!)
Practice Exercises
Fill in the correct measure word:
1. 三___书 (three books)
Answer: 本
2. 五___猫 (five cats)
Answer: 只
3. 两___车 (two cars)
Answer: 辆
4. 一___纸 (one piece of paper)
Answer: 张
5. 四___咖啡 (four cups of coffee)
Answer: 杯
IGCSE Exam Tips
- ✓ Measure words appear frequently in Paper 2 (Reading) and Paper 4 (Writing)
- ✓ Using the wrong measure word is a common mistake that loses marks
- ✓ When unsure, 个 is usually acceptable (but not always the best choice)
- ✓ Memorize the top 10 measure words—they cover 80% of exam situations
- ✓ Practice with real objects to build visual associations
Master Measure Words with Interactive Practice
Try Toolkit 4: Measure Words with instant feedback and visual examples
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