Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Measure-words

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Chinese Measure Words
Measure words in chinese polyglotclub lesson.jpg

你好 Chinese Learners! 😃

➡ You will find below a comprehensive list of Chinese measure words.

In Chinese, in order to specify a certain number of something, you combine a number with a measure word (also named classifier, specifier), followed by the noun.

You need to know the right measure word when asking a "how much/many?" question using "jǐ 几".

By learning these measure words, you will be able to express quantities and amounts more accurately and effectively in Chinese. You will find a comprehensive list of measure words, along with examples of their use in context, to help you understand and use them correctly.

A Chinese version of For Want of a Nail (from 简单的逻辑学 Being Logical: A Guide to Good Thinking, author: D.Q. McInerny, translator: 赵明燕, press: 中国人民大学出版社 China Renmin University Press, ISBN: 978-7-300-08853-2, page: 48) is:

  • 失了一铁钉,丢了一马蹄铁;
  • 丢了一马蹄铁,折了一战马;
  • 折了一战马,损了一国王;
  • 损了一国王,输了一战争;
  • 输了一战争,亡了一帝国。


Comprehensive List of Chinese Measure Words[edit | edit source]

Below is a comprehensive list of Chinese measure words and how to use them.

  • Italic means uncommon.
Character Pinyin Usage or meaning Example
handful thing 一把粮食/一把糧食 a hand of grains
bān group of people, scheduled transportation 一班公交车/一班公車 a course of bus
bǎn outdated unit for wall
bān kind 一般风景/一般風景 a kind of scene
bàn segment of flower 一瓣花瓣 a segment of flower
bāo pack 一包烟/一包煙 a pack of cigarette
bào encirclement of one's two arms 一抱柴火 an armful of firewood
bēi amount of a cup 一杯咖啡 a cup of coffee
bèi time of amount 两倍收入/兩倍收入 twice income
běn book, plant 一本书/一本書 a book
笔/筆 payment, painting or calligraphy 一笔交易/一筆交易 a deal
biàn number of times of action 看一遍 look at it one time
biāo outdated, troop
bǐng thing with a handle 一柄锤子/一柄錘子 a hammer
拨/撥 group 一拨客人/一撥客人 a group of customers
step, length of a step 一步棋 a move of chess
movie, novel, vehicle, phone, ... 一部电影/一部電影 a movie
cáo groove 一槽窗户/一槽窗戶 a slot of window
册/冊 book 一册书/一冊書 a book
层/層 céng layer 一层楼/一層樓 a floor
cháng outdated length unit of 1 zhàng 4 chǐ
场/場 chǎng activity 一场比赛/一場比賽 a match, 一场地震/一場地震 an earthquake
cháng number of times 一场雨/一場雨 a rain
车/車 chē volume of a car/cart 一车粮食/一車糧食 a car/cart of food
chéng wine urn 一酲酒 an urn of wine
chóng layer, piece 三重门/三重門 three layers of door
筹/籌 chóu people 三筹好汉/三籌好漢 three heroes
出/齣 chū drama 一出戏/一齣戲 a show
chuàn string of the same things 一串葡萄 a bunch of grapes
chuáng bedding 一床被子 a quilt
锤/錘 chuí outdated monetary unit
cluster 一簇鲜花/一簇鮮花 a cluster of flowers
cuō pinch, milliliter 一撮土 a pinch of soil
zuǒ tuft 一撮头发/一撮頭髮 a tuft of hair
piece
dozen 一打铅笔/一打鉛筆 a dozen pencils
pile 一沓信纸/一沓信紙 a pile of letter paper
set 一沓杯子 a set of cups
dài amount of a sack 一袋米 a sack of rice
dàn outdated weight unit, outdated volume unit
担/擔 dàn thing beared by shoulders 一担水/一擔水 a bucket of water
dàn outdated weight unit
dāo time of cutting, 100 pieces of paper 切三刀 to cut 3 times, 一刀纸/一刀紙 100 pieces of paper
dào strip, door, meal, question, sight of intrest, ... 一道门/一道門 a door
dèng stair 十磴台阶/十磴台階 ten steps of stair
drop 一滴水 a drop of water
点/點 diǎn uncertain little amount 一点甜味/一點甜味 a little sweetness
diào outdated monetery unit of 1000 coins
叠/疊 dié stack 一叠盘子/一疊盤子 a stack of plates
顶/頂 dǐng thing with a top 一顶帽子/一頂帽子 a hat
锭/錠 dìng ingot 一锭银子/一錠銀子 an ingot of silver
栋/棟 dòng building 一栋楼/一棟樓 a building
dōu plant 一蔸草 a stick of grass
wall 一堵墙/一堵牆 a wall
duàn section 一段布 a cloth
duī heap 一堆垃圾 a heap of junk
队/隊 duì team 一队士兵/一隊士兵 a team of soldiers
对/對 duì pair 一对情侣/一對情侶 a pair of lovers
吨/噸 dūn ton, volume unit for ship of 2.83 cubic metres
dūn cluster of plants 一千墩花生 a thousand peanuts
duǒ flower, cloud 一朵花 a flower
duò pile 一垛砖/一垛磚 a pile of brircks
发/發 cartridge 一发子弹/一發子彈 a bullet
fān number of times, kind, piece, fold 别有一番天地 being another kind of world, 翻一番 to double
fàn tract of field 一畈田 a tract
fáng string of fruit, wife or concubine 一房侧室/一房側室 a side room (dweller)
fēn divided part 二分之一 1/2
fèn part 一份牛排 a steak, 一份报纸/一份報紙 a newspaper
fǒu outdated volume unit of 16 or 32 dǒu
paintiing, cloth 一幅画/一幅畫 a painting
set of thing, attitude 一副盔甲 a suit of armor, 一副笑脸/一副笑臉 a smiling face
gāi stage
竿 gān bamboo, pipe smoke 一竿烟/一竿煙 a pipe smoke
gǎn thing with a pole 一杆枪/一杆槍 a gun
volume unit of 1/10 litre, outdated untelsil for grains
个/個 universal measure word 一个人/一個人 a person, 一个场景/一個場景 a scene
gēn thing of strip shape 一根电线/一根電線 a wire
gōng outdated length unit of 1/5 chǐ
whiff, stream, band of people 一股烟/一股煙 a smoke
挂/掛 guà string 一挂鞭炮/一掛鞭炮 a string of crackers
guǎn slender cylindrical thing 一管铅笔/一管鉛筆 a pencil
guàng reel 一桄线/一桄線 a reel of string
过/過 guò number of times
号/號 hào people 几十号人/幾十號人 tens of people
round of fight 战了五十合/戰了五十合 fought 50 rounds
volume unit of 1/10 litre, outdated untelsil for grains
hóng pure water 一泓清泉 a fountain
户/戶 family 一户人家/一戶人家 a mafily
huí number of times, chapter, moment 上一回 last time
伙/夥 huǒ group of people 一伙强盗/一夥強盜 a group of robbers
huò time of changing water 洗了三和 washed three times
级/級 step, stage, head 一级人头/一級人頭 a head of man
记/記 hit on body 一记耳光/一記耳光 a slap in the face
剂/劑 decoction of medicinal ingredients 一剂药/一劑藥 a dose of medicine
jiā family, shop or enterprise, ... 一家店铺/一家店鋪 a shop
jià distance between posts, thing with posts 一架飞机/一架飛機 an aeroplane
jiān shoulder 一肩重担/一肩重擔 a shoulder burden
间/間 jiān room 一间公寓/一間公寓 an apartment
jiān decoction 一煎药/一煎藥 a decoction
jiàn affair, garment 一件事 an affair
jiǎo monetary unit of 1/10 yuán, quarter, outdated measuring vessel 屋子一角 a corner of the house
绞/絞 jiǎo skein 一绞毛线/一絞毛線 a woolen thread
觉/覺 jiào sleep 一觉/一覺 a sleep
节/節 jié section 一节比赛/一節比賽 a section of game, 一节竹子/一節竹子 a section of bamboo
jié cut piece 一截木头/一截木頭 a section of wood
jiè person with occupation (humble) 一介书生/一介書生 a scholar
届/屆 jiè term of meeting or the group of students to graduate 一届会议/一屆會議 a meeting
jīn weight unit of 500 grams
进/進 jìn layer
茎/莖 jīng thin stick 一茎草/一莖草 a stick of grass
amount of hands holding 一掬土 soil held by hands
举/舉 outdated weight unit of 3 liǎng
four bundles of seedlings
sentence 一句话/一句話 a sentence
coffin, corpse, bracket clock, ... 一具棺材 a coffin
animal power unit of number of animals pulling a tool
juǎn wad, amount of a roll 一卷钞票/一卷鈔票 a wad of banknotes
开/開 kāi karat, folds of folio
plant 一棵树/一棵樹 a tree
颗/顆 grain 一颗珍珠/一顆珍珠 a pearl
sale of food 一客冰淇淋 an ice-cream
kǒng cave, bridge, ... 一孔油井 an oil well
kǒu well, mouthful of food 一口井 a well
kòu bunch of document, thread lap 拧了三扣/擰了三扣 screwed three laps
块/塊 kuài piece, lump, colloquial yuán 一块冰/一塊冰 an ice
kǔn bundle 一捆柴 a bundle of firewood
the divided 半拉地 the half of divided land
lěi outdated weight unit
magnitude of 1/100, length unit, weight unit, acreage unit,

interest rate unit

厘米 centimetre
round small thing 一粒药/一粒藥 a pill
联/聯 lián pair 对联/對聯 couplet
两/兩 liǎng weight unit, 50 grams for now 半斤八两/半斤八兩 half jīn and eight liǎng (at the same level, idiom, derogatory)
liǎng pair of shoes
辆/輛 liàng vehicle 一辆车/一輛車 a car
liào decoction, number of times 一料药/一料藥 a decoction
liè row of the same things 一列火车/一列火車 a train
lǐng 500 pieces of paper 一令纸/一令紙 500 pieces of paper
领/領 lǐng mat 一领席/一領席 a mat
绺/綹 liǔ tuft 一绺丝线/一綹絲線 a thread
liù row 一溜房屋 a row of houses
炉/爐 heat 一炉钢/一爐鋼 a heat of steel
轮/輪 lún round thing, number of times 一轮明月/一輪明月 a round bright moon
罗/羅 luó gross
luò pile
luò stack 一摞砖/一摞磚 a pile of bricks
缕/縷 strand 一缕头发/一縷頭髮 a strand of hair
锊/鋝 lüè outdated weight unit, 6 liǎng
码/碼 thing, pile, length unit yard 一码砖/一碼磚 a pile of bricks
卖/賣 mài dish 一卖杂烩/一賣雜燴 a dish of chowder
méi piece 一枚邮票/一枚郵票 a stamp
méi crescent 一眉新月 a new moon
měi mel scale
门/門 mén cannon 一门大炮/一門大砲 a big cannon
miàn flat thing 一面镜子/一面鏡子 a mirror
miǎo time unit second, degree unit second
缗/緡 mín string of 1000 coins
míng people 一名商人 a merchant
outdated monetary unit, 100 wén
亩/畝 area unit, 1/15 hectare for now 一亩地/一畝地 1 mǔ of land
ǒu pair
pái row 一排房子 a row of houses
pài scenery, meteorology, sound, language, ... 一派胡言 nonsence
pán shop, factory, field, part of the integrated 一爿商店 a shop
盘/盤 pán plate, round of chess 一盘石磨/一盤石磨 a plate of stone mill
pāo number of times of defecation
pāo number of times of defecation
pāo number of times of defecation
pén pot, outdated volume unit 一盆花 a pot of flower
péng dishevelled thing 一蓬凤尾竹/一蓬鳳尾竹 a Bambusa multiplex
pěng double handful 一捧土 handful of soil
large thing or large amount of things 一批货物/一批貨物 a batch of goods
piān piece of writing, sheet of paper 一篇文章 an article
piàn tablet, stretch, scene 一片森林 a forest
piào ticket 一票生意 a ticket of business
piě side-falling thing 两撇眉毛/兩撇眉毛 two eyebrows
pǐn roof truss
póu grains 一抔沙子 a handful of sand
铺/鋪 mat or mattress 一铺褥子/一鋪褥子 a mattress
骑/騎 qí/jì a person with a horse 千乘万骑/千乘萬騎 thousand chariots and ten thousand cavalry
number of times, case, group, batch 一起诉讼/一起訴訟 a lawsuit
qiā amount of thumb and another finger tip
钱/錢 qián outdated weight unit mace, weight unit of 1/100 kilogram
qiāng animal 一腔猪/一腔豬 a pig
顷/頃 qǐng area unit of 2/3 hectares
丘/坵 qiū divided paddy field 一丘田/一坵田 a paddy field
躯/軀 body 一躯死尸/一軀死屍 a corpse
song 一曲歌 a song
quān loop 一圈铁丝/一圈鐵絲 a circle of wire
quán punch on body 打一拳 hit a punch
阕/闋 què lyrics 一阕词/一闋詞 a line of verse
qún group 一群天鹅/一群天鵝 a group of swans
rèn term of office 一任总统/一任總統 a president
shàn door, window 一扇门/一扇門 a door
shēn clothing on whole body 一身衣服 a set of clothing
声/聲 shēng number of times of sound 一声叹息/一聲嘆息 a sigh
shèng chariot 千乘之国/千乘之國 country with a thousand chariots
shì piece of garment
shǒu skill 一手奇招 a trick
shǒu poem, lyric, song 一首诗/一首詩 a poem
shú crop, bearing 一年三熟 three crops a year
shù bundle 一束花 a bundle of flowers
双/雙 shuāng pair 一双翅膀/一雙翅膀 a pair of wings
sōu ship 一艘船 a ship
suō shuttle, bullet clip 一梭子弹/一梭子彈 a clip of bullets
suǒ building with usage, mountain, island 一所学校/一所學校 a school
suǒ outdated length unit of 10 zhàng, length of a rope, coins on a string
丝/絲 magnitude of 1/10000 丝米/絲米 1/10000 metre
piece
台(/臺) tái drama, aparatus, ... 一台电视/一台電視 a television
抬(/擡) tái thing lifted by two people 八抬大轿/八抬大轎 eight lift sedan chair
摊/攤 tān pool 一滩水/一灘水 a pool of water
坛/壇 tán relative to altar, earthen jug 一坛佛事/一壇佛事 a Buddhism ritual
táng lesson, set 一堂课/一堂課 a lesson
tàng step, suit in drama 一趟火车/一趟火車 a course of train
tào set 一套餐具 a set of tableware
objects being carried 一提酒 wine being carried
nubmer of times
tiāo carrying pole with its load 一挑水 two barrels of water
条/條 tiáo strip, fish 一条鱼/一條魚 a fish
贴/貼 tiē plaster 一贴膏药/一貼膏藥 a plaster
tiě mixed decotion 一帖中药/一帖中藥 a dose of Chinese medicine
tíng stalk 一莛草 a stick of grass
tǐng pole
tǐng straight object 一挺机关枪/一挺機關槍 a machine gun
tōng number of times, telegram, phone call 一通电话/一通電話 a phone call
统/統 tǒng stele or timber, 1539 years
tǒng barrel 一桶水 a barrel of water
tǒng tube 一筒米 a barrel of rice
头/頭 tóu animal 一头大象/一頭大象 an elephant
团/團 tuán lump 一团毛线/一團毛線 a ball of wool
tuó block 一砣石头/一砣石頭 a stone
tuǒ outddated, length of stretched arms
弯/彎 wān curved moon 一弯明月/一彎明月 a curved bright moon
湾/灣 wān place on water
wǎn bowl, lantern 一碗水 a bowl of water
wāng pool 一汪水 a pool of water
围/圍 wéi thing can be circled, length of a circle of two arms or fingers 一围玉带/一圍玉帶 a jade belt
wěi fish 一尾鱼/一尾魚 a fish
wèi kind of medicinal herb 五味药/五味藥 five kinds of herb
wén old coin 一文钱/一文錢 a penny
窝/窩 brood 一窝小鸡/一窩小雞 a nest of chicks
length of a fist, volume of a hand
outdated length unit of 6 chǐ
table of meal 一席酒 a table of wine
袭/襲 suit, layer
xià time of the same action 点击鼠标两下/點擊滑鼠兩下 click the mouse two times
线/線 xiàn gleam 一线希望/一線希望 a glimmer of hope
xiāng volume of a box 一箱宝石/一箱寶石 a box of precious stones
响/響 xiǎng number of times of sound 双响/雙響 two times of sound
项/項 xiàng item 一项任务/一項任務 a task
xiē some, somewhat 一些人 some people
xiē number of times, moment 歇一歇 take a break
xún urging guests to drink 酒过三巡/酒過三巡 after three times of persuading to drink
浔/潯 xún depth unit fathom
yǎn well 一眼井 a well
样/樣 yàng kind 多样/多樣 diverse
yǐn outdated length unit, 10 zhàng
turn 绕树三匝/繞樹三匝 around the tree three turns
bunch 一扎钱/一扎錢 a bunch of cash
载/載 zài capacity of a cart, 40 liǎng
zāo time of encounter 走一遭 go a time
zào number of times of harvest
则/則 article 一则公告/一則公告 an annoncement
zhǎ length of spreaded thumb and middle finger tips
盏/盞 zhǎn lamp, lantern 一盏灯/一盞燈 a lamp
张/張 zhāng piece of paper, table, chair, mouth, bow, ... 一张明信片/一張明信片 a postcard
zhāng movement of a song, chapter, tree
zhàng length unit, 10/3 metre for now 万丈深渊/萬丈深淵 ten thousand zhàng depth abyss
帧/幀 zhēn piece of picture 一帧油画/一幀油畫 an oil painting
zhī rod, team, song, wattage of bulb 一支钢笔/一支鋼筆 a pen
只/隻 zhī animal, wing, ... 一只老虎/一隻老虎 a tiger
zhī sprig, rod 一枝月桂 a laurel
纸/紙 zhǐ sheet of paper 一纸空文/一紙空文 an invalid paper
zhì decade
zhōng handleless small cup 一盅酒 a little cup of wine
钟/锺 zhōng handleless small cup, outdated volumn unit
荮/葤 zhòu ware bundled with grass 一荮盘子/一荮盤子 a bundle of plates
zhū plant 一株树/一株樹 a tree
铢/銖 zhū outdated weight unit, outdated monetary unit, monetary unit baht
zhù gambling capital, payment, rain 一注钱/一注錢 a note of money
zhù lit incense 一炷香 a lit incense
转/轉 zhuàn rotation, number of times 每分钟300转/每分鐘300轉 300 rounds per minute
zhuǎn number of times about promotion
庄/莊 zhuāng matter
桩/樁 zhuāng matter 一桩案件/一樁案件 a case
zhuàng/chuáng building 一幢大楼/一幢大樓 a large building
锱/錙 outdated weight unit
zōng matter 一宗诉讼/一宗訴訟 a lawsuit
综/綜 zōng tuft 一综线/一綜線 a tuft of line
组/組 set, bundle 一组发电机/一組發電機 a set of generator, 一组线/一組線 a bundle of line
zūn idol, cannon, cup of wine 一尊大炮/一尊大砲 a cannon
zuò big and not movable thing 一座山 a mountain

Tips to remember them[edit | edit source]

Remembering measure words in Chinese can be challenging, but here are some tips that may help:

  • Grouping: Categorize Measure Words by Topic

One effective way to remember measure words in Chinese is to group them by topic or category, such as animals, people, food, etc. This can help you remember which measure word to use for a particular noun.

  • Associating: Use Visual Images or Mnemonics

Another helpful method for remembering measure words is to associate them with a visual image or mnemonic. For example, you might associate the measure word "个" (gè) with a picture of a person holding up one finger, to help you remember that it is used for counting individual items.

  • Practice: Use Measure Words in Context

Consistent practice using measure words in context is key to remembering them. The more you use them, the more familiar they will become. Try using them in sentences, conversations, and other contexts to reinforce your understanding.

  • Listening: Listen to Chinese Speakers Using Measure Words

Listening to Chinese speakers using measure words in conversation or in media can help you develop a natural sense of which measure word to use in different situations. Watch Chinese TV shows or movies, listen to Chinese music or podcasts, or practice conversation with native speakers.

  • Resources: Use Study Materials to Learn and Review Measure Words

There are many resources available to help you learn and review measure words in Chinese, including textbooks, online courses, flashcards, and other study materials. Consistent review and practice with these resources can help you remember the measure words over time.

Quiz[edit | edit source]

Here are the questions and answers to help you practice and remember Chinese measure words:

Questions:[edit | edit source]

What measure word would you use for:

  1. "a bottle of beer"?
  2. "a slice of bread"?
  3. "a box of tissues"?
  4. "a cup of coffee"?
  5. "a chair"?
  6. "a car"?
  7. "a bag of chips"?
  8. "a pair of gloves"?
  9. "a bottle of wine"?
  10. "a bunch of flowers"?
  11. "a box of chocolates"?
  12. "a plate of dumplings"?
  13. "a pair of glasses"?
  14. "a box of crayons"?
  15. "a sheet of paper"?
  16. "a piece of cake"?
  17. "a roll of toilet paper"?
  18. "a box of crayons"?
  19. "a bag of apples"?
  20. "a piece of clothing"?
  21. "a piece of furniture"?
  22. "a slice of cheese"?
  23. "a cup of tea"?
  24. "a pair of socks"?
  25. "a tube of toothpaste"?
  26. "a set of utensils"?
  27. "a box of matches"?
  28. "a bottle of shampoo"?
  29. "a loaf of bread"?
  30. "a carton of eggs"?

Answers:[edit | edit source]

  1. 瓶 (píng)
  2. 片 (piàn)
  3. 盒 (hé)
  4. 杯 (bēi)
  5. 把 (bǎ)
  6. 辆 (liàng)
  7. 袋 (dài)
  8. 双 (shuāng)
  9. 瓶 (píng)
  10. 朵 (duǒ)
  11. 盒 (hé)
  12. 盘 (pán)
  13. 副 (fù)
  14. 盒 (hé)
  15. 张 (zhāng)
  16. 块 (kuài)
  17. 卷 (juǎn)
  18. 盒 (hé)
  19. 袋 (dài)
  20. 件 (jiàn)
  21. 件 (jiàn)
  22. 片 (piàn)
  23. 杯 (bēi)
  24. 双 (shuāng)
  25. 支 (zhī)
  26. 套 (tào)
  27. 盒 (hé)
  28. 瓶 (píng)
  29. 条 (tiáo)
  30. 盒 (hé

Author[edit | edit source]

Grimpixel


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

Contributors

Vincent and Maintenance script


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