Chinese measure words with examples
When counting things in Chinese, a number usually needs a measure word before the noun. Learn each noun together with a useful measure word, rather than treating one measure word as a replacement for all the others.
Start with the pattern
Use number + measure word + noun. The general measure word in these phrases works with people. The word for two changes to the form commonly used before a measure word.
- 一个朋友
Yí ge péngyou
one friend
- 两个学生
Liǎng ge xuéshēng
two students
- 三个学生
Sān ge xuéshēng
three students
Count books
Books use a different measure word from people. Keep the order the same and change the measure word to match the noun. In the full sentence, the quantity phrase comes after the verb.
- 一本书
Yì běn shū
one book
- 两本书
Liǎng běn shū
two books
- 我有三本书。
Wǒ yǒu sān běn shū.
I have three books.
Count items of clothing
Clothing uses a measure word for individual items. The quantity comes first, followed by the measure word and the noun. Try these phrases when talking about what you own or want to buy.
- 一件衣服
Yí jiàn yīfu
one item of clothing
- 两件衣服
Liǎng jiàn yīfu
two items of clothing
- 我想买一件衣服。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yí jiàn yīfu.
I would like to buy an item of clothing.
Use the pattern in conversation
Try replacing the quantity while keeping the measure word and noun together. In this sentence, the polite expression comes first, followed by the request.
- 你好，我想买两本书。
Nǐ hǎo, wǒ xiǎng mǎi liǎng běn shū.
Hello, I would like to buy two books.
Continue with HSK 1 vocabulary or HSK 2 vocabulary.