Language/Mandarin-chinese/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Mandarin Chinese learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about plurals in Mandarin Chinese. Plurals are important because they indicate that there are more than one of a particular noun. Knowing how to use them correctly will allow you to communicate more effectively in Chinese. Let's get started!
Introduction[edit | edit source]
In English, we add "-s" or "-es" to the end of most nouns to indicate plurality. For example, we say "one apple" and "two apples." In Mandarin Chinese, there is no plural form for nouns. Instead, context is used to indicate whether a noun is singular or plural. This means that, unlike in English, there are no spelling changes or additional particles to indicate plurality.
In this lesson, we will discuss how context is used to indicate plurals in Mandarin Chinese.
Take some time to dive into these other pages after completing this lesson: 是...的, How to ask a question in Chinese, Connect two nouns with 是 (shì) & 吗 ma.
Ways to indicate plurals in Mandarin Chinese[edit | edit source]
In Mandarin Chinese, there are multiple ways to indicate plurality. Here are some common ways:
Using numerals (一, 两, 三, 四, 五...)[edit | edit source]
Using numerals is one of the most common ways to indicate plurality. For example:
Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
一个苹果 | yī ge píng guǒ | one apple |
两个苹果 | liǎng ge píng guǒ | two apples |
三块蛋糕 | sān kuài dàn gāo | three cakes |
四只猫 | sì zhī māo | four cats |
As you can see, the numeral before the noun indicates that there is more than one of the noun.
Using quantifiers (些, 几, 多少, 许多...)[edit | edit source]
Quantifiers are words that indicate the amount of something. They are often used with nouns to indicate plurality. Here are some examples:
Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
一些书 | yī xiē shū | some books |
几个朋友 | jǐ ge péng yǒu | a few friends |
多少人 | duō shǎo rén | how many people |
许多花 | xǔ duō huā | many flowers |
Again, the context and the quantifier used indicate plurality.
Using collective nouns (们, 等...)[edit | edit source]
Collective nouns indicate plurality by referring to a group of people or things as a whole. Here are some examples:
Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
我们 | wǒ men | we |
他们 | tā men | they (male or mixed gender) |
她们 | tā men | they (female only) |
等人 | děng rén | etc. (literally "and people") |
Using collective nouns allows the speaker to refer to a group of people or things in the plural form.
Using context[edit | edit source]
Sometimes, context alone is enough to indicate plurality. For example:
Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
我今天吃了很多蛋糕 | wǒ jīn tiān chī le hěn duō dàn gāo | I ate a lot of cakes today |
他送我三束花 | tā sòng wǒ sān shù huā | He gave me three bouquets of flowers |
In these examples, the context (the use of "a lot," "three," and "bouquets") make it clear that there is more than one of the noun.
Plurals with measure words[edit | edit source]
In Mandarin Chinese, measure words are used with most nouns. They indicate the quantity of the noun being referred to. Measure words must be used whenever a noun is preceded by a numeral. A measure word can also give context for whether a noun is plural or singular. For example:
Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
两个苹果 | liǎng ge píng guǒ | two apples |
三个人 | sān gè rén | three people |
In these examples, "ge" (个) is a measure word that is used with both "apple" and "person" to indicate the quantity. Without "ge," the sentences would be grammatically incorrect.
Sometimes, the measure word itself can indicate whether a noun is singular or plural. For example:
Mandarin Chinese | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
一束花 | yī shù huā | one bouquet of flowers |
五把椅子 | wǔ bǎ yǐ zǐ | five chairs |
In these examples, "shu" (束) and "ba" (把) are both measure words. The use of "shu" indicates that there is one bouquet of flowers, while the use of "ba" indicates that there are five chairs.
Summary[edit | edit source]
In Mandarin Chinese, plurals are indicated through context. Using numerals, quantifiers, collective nouns, and measure words can help indicate whether a noun is singular or plural. Remember that measure words are required whenever a noun is preceded by a numeral.
To further improve your Mandarin Chinese find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have. You can also check out the Polyglot Club website to practice your Mandarin Chinese skills with other language learners from around the world.
Don't forget to check out our other Mandarin Chinese Grammar lessons as well! Happy learning! 😄
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Be Polite
- Questions with 不 (bù)
- Mastering Chinese Grammar Easily – 8 Rules You Need to Know
- Talk about the weather
- Connect two nouns with 是 (shì)
- 是...的
- How to ask a question in Chinese
- 了 le
- 也 yě
- Basic structure of a sentence