One of the most máfan 麻烦 things about learning Chinese is all the “measure words” (“liàng cí 量词”). As one of my students said once, “But they tell the shape of the thing you’re talking about.” I said, “I don’t need an extra word to do that when I’m about to say the THING itself!” But they’re in the language so we have to learn ’em if we want to speak good Chinese. You especially need to know the right measure word if you’re asking a “how much/many?” question using “jǐ 几.” For example,
NOTE: jǐ 几+ {measure word} can also mean “several.” For example, “jǐ jié kè 几节课” can mean “several classes” depending on context.
The back of Chubby lists about 90 different measure words for things as diverse as “terms of office” and “garlic bulbs.” So the real question is:
Which measure words are worth learning if you’re not majoring in Chinese history and literature?
The answer has two parts:
- For speaking, I’ve compiled a list (in order of frequency) of the top 10 measure words I use on a daily basis. These are measure words that are important to be fluent with because if I just used the default “gè 个,” people would either look at me like I’d said “he” when I meant “she” OR (as has happened) they might actually correct my measure word.
- For listening, because I get stumped pretty easily when listening, I’ve found it’s best to know as many as possible.
See: Which measure words do they really use?
The default
- 个 > when it doubt, use this one. Except for the following cases (and when talking about animals–all the animals have their own measure words) using is usually fine, even if it’s not technically correct.
Top 10 measure words to know
Besides “
in my daily life (I’m a teacher):- > for 1 hour class periods
- > flat stuff (pieces of paper, tables, CDs)
- > for bundles/batches (servings of food, multi-page documents)
- for people (polite)
支 > stick-like things (pen)
> 1 of a pair (1 chopstick, 1 shoe, 1 eye)- > pairs (2 chopsticks, 2 shoes, 2 eyes)
- 辆 > vehicles with wheels (but not trains)
- > for roads, long pieces of clothing (pants)
Some good news
Even though you’re supposed to swap out the “ge 个” in “ ge 这个” and “ ge 那个” when saying “this” and “that,” respectively, they often seem to just keep the old “ge 个” in there. I’ve heard “ ge ” (instead of “ and “ ge CD 这个CD” (instead of But, unfortunately, when counting real stuff, and especially those “jǐ 几” questions they absolutely use the measure words…so we gotta know ’em.
Money
I guess I lied. These two are probably the most common ones in my life. But, even though these are the first words everyone in China learns, I thought I’d list them hear to show that they really are measure words.
- 元, US dollars, British pounds) > for “big” money (Chinese yuán
- 毛 > for 1/10 of the “big” money (Chinese jiǎo 角, US dimes)
NOTE: “
is oral Chinese. It would be expressed as “ in formal or written Chinese.Number Markers
These aren’t necessarily measure words because you don’t have to count these things, but you add them after numbers just the same, and they follow “jǐ 几” in questions that require a number for an answer. So I think of them in the same category. These are also super frequent words in my daily vocabulary, so I thought I’d list them with the context I most often hear them in.
- 到市中心我要坐几路车?
= To go to the city center I need to take which {bus route number} bus?
Times
Ok, so I fudged a little on the title of this post. There is also this special category of measure words for “times” which have slightly different nuances. These are the only ones I’ve heard used in daily life:
= this is my second time to come to China [this is my 2nd time come China] *often
> times (generic)
- 遍 > times (start to finish)
- 下 > short periods of time (a moment, a sec)
= just a second [wait one time]
- huìr 会儿 > short periods of time (a while, longer than
- 等一会儿
= just a minute [wait one time]
huìr
- 等一会儿
Words that ARE their own measure words
Since I’m on a roll here, I just thought I’d mention there are some words that don’t need a measure word because they are, in a sense, their own measure word.
Strangely enough, “yuè 月” (month) is the exception to the rule. Look:
- 一个月 = 1 month
Hey Albert, thanks for your blog, great articles, xiexie ni!
Good article. I’ve found that, with exception of ‘ge,’ the measure word I use the most is ‘jia1’ 家, for companies, restaurants, etc.
你有没有想过用汉字呢?
I agree with captainbundington.. if it’s not too much work..
I used to use and hear “zhuo1” a lot when people asked how many (tables of) customers were in the bar.
Xie xie ni de bang zhu,
you really gave me enough to start decoding those measure words Dilimma…but still miles to go
Thanks a lot for your site.
I’m an Italian Ph.D. student, i’ll go to Beijing in december for three months just for studying Chinese.
See you,
Tom
I probably use ping2 (瓶, bottle) more than any other measure word (except 个) because speaking Chinese seems so much easier after a couple of them.
Excellent post!
thanks for the explanations to the measure words! i need more!!!:)
i am hungarian, learning chineese for one year now.. and i LOVE IT!!!!
by the way.. have you noticed, guys, the chineese version of this motto on the mcdonalds cups?
wo jiu xihuang (maybe a subject as well.. dont remeber exactly:))
so thanks
“All the animals have their own measure words” is a touch misleading. I’ve recently written a Mandarin version of ‘Old MacDonald had a Farm’ and so have had to check measure words for animals. I already knew it was PI for horses, and ZHI for chickens. I assumed it would be ZHI for ducks as well, but what about cows, pigs, sheep and dogs? ZHI. I’m not sure of the rule, but I’d hazard a guess that if it’s a bird, or an mammal that habitually walks about on four legs but isn’t used as a means of personal transport, you’re unlikely to go wrong with ZHI.
liàng 辆 > vehicles with wheels (but not trains)
The individual cars of the train are still called 辆. On train tickets, your 辆 and 位 are written (unless it’s a “no-seat” ticket).
really great! I have a chinese exam tomorrow…this has really helped me a lot. thanks albert!
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What would be the different measure words for ”class” when you’re registering for classes, versus ”class” like ”see you next class”?
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Extremely helpful, thank you!
How would you say I have two black eyes (not a pair of eyes).
Would it be 我有兩個黑黑的眼睛。or does that not make sense?
Still very muddled. I think also under “Money” you have typo/ error “hear” should read as”here”. FYI
Xiexie nin de bang zhu.