míngliàngcí
Nominal measure words (名量词)
Chinese always requires a measure word between a number and a noun. You cannot say 三书 — you must say 三本书 (three books). Each noun category has its own measure word: 个 for people/general objects, 本 for books, 杯 for drinks, 口 for family members, 块 for money.
核心例句
服务员，来一碗面条！桌上有两杯水，我家有三口人——三种量词，轻松搞定！
Fúwùyuán, lái yī wǎn miàntiáo! Zhuō shàng yǒu liǎng bēi shuǐ, wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén — sān zhǒng liàngcí, qīngsōng gǎodìng!
Waiter, one bowl of noodles please! There are two cups of water on the table, and there are three people in my family — three different measure words, and it's easy once you know them!
HSK 1
HSK 1
2
2 个结构
10
10 个练习
课程摘要
Chinese always requires a measure word between a number and a noun. You cannot say 三书 — you must say 三本书 (three books). Each noun category has its own measure word: 个 for people/general objects, 本 for books, 杯 for drinks, 口 for family members, 块 for money.
Nominal measure words (名量词) are one of the most distinctive features of Chinese grammar. Unlike English (where you say 'three books' directly), Chinese always inserts a measure word: 三本书.
Key measure words at HSK 1: - 个 (gè): the universal measure word for people and most objects — 一个人, 两个苹果, 三个问题. - 本 (běn): for books, notebooks, magazines — 两本书, 一本杂志. - 杯 (bēi): for cups/glasses of liquid — 一杯水, 两杯咖啡. - 口 (kǒu): for family members — 我家有四口人. - 块 (kuài): for money (yuan) or pieces — 五块钱, 一块蛋糕. - 件 (jiàn): for clothing items — 两件衬衫. - 张 (zhāng): for flat objects — 一张纸, 两张照片.
When in doubt, use 个 — it is the most versatile measure word and is acceptable in most informal situations.
When NOT to use measure words: Do not use a measure word without a number in front of it. You cannot say 个人来了 as a general statement — say 一个人来了 (A person came) or just 人来了 (People/Someone came).
语法句型
Numeral + measure word + noun
The standard pattern for counting objects. Choose the measure word that matches the noun category.
服务员，来一碗面条！
Fúwùyuán, lái yī wǎn miàntiáo!
Waiter, one bowl of noodles please!
桌子上有两杯水。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu liǎng bēi shuǐ.
There are two cups of water on the table.
我家有四口人。
Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén.
There are four people in my family.
语法句型
Demonstrative + measure word + noun
Measure words also appear after demonstratives 这/那 when pointing to a specific object.
这件衣服多少钱？
Zhè jiàn yīfu duōshao qián?
How much is this item of clothing?
那本杂志是你的吗？
Nà běn zázhì shì nǐ de ma?
Is that magazine yours?
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