shùliàng duǎnyǔ
Number-measure phrases (数量短语)
In Chinese, you cannot place a numeral directly before a noun. You must insert a measure word (量词) between them: Number + Measure Word + Noun. Every noun category has its own measure word — 个 is the most flexible default.
核心例句
在中文里，你不能直接说"三书"——必须说"三本书"，就像英文要说"three loaves of bread"一样。量词是不可少的！
Zài Zhōngwén lǐ, nǐ bù néng zhíjiē shuō 'sān shū' — bìxū shuō 'sān běn shū', jiù xiàng Yīngwén yào shuō 'three books'. Liàngcí shì bùkě shǎo de!
In Chinese you can't just say 'three book' — you must say 'three volume book' (三本书). The measure word is non-negotiable!
HSK 1
HSK 1
2
2 个结构
10
10 个练习
课程摘要
In Chinese, you cannot place a numeral directly before a noun. You must insert a measure word (量词) between them: Number + Measure Word + Noun. Every noun category has its own measure word — 个 is the most flexible default.
Number-measure phrases (数量短语) are a fundamental structure in Chinese. Unlike English, Chinese requires a measure word between any numeral and the noun it modifies.
Basic structure: Numeral + Measure Word (+ Noun). The noun can be omitted if it is clear from context — 三本在桌子上 (Three [of them] are on the table).
Common measure words at HSK 1: • 个 (gè) — general: people, objects without a dedicated measure word: 一个学生, 两个苹果 • 本 (běn) — books, notebooks: 三本书, 一本本子 • 杯 (bēi) — cups of liquid: 两杯水, 一杯咖啡 • 口 (kǒu) — family members (in counting): 三口人 • 张 (zhāng) — flat things (paper, tables, photos): 一张纸, 两张照片 • 件 (jiàn) — clothes, matters: 一件衣服 • 只 (zhī) — small animals: 一只猫
Special note on 两 vs 二: When counting with a measure word, use 两, not 二: 两个学生 , 二个学生 . Use 二 for numbers in sequences (第二, 十二) or standalone counting (一二三四).
When NOT to add a measure word: Measure words are not used with time words like 一天, 两年, 三月 — these already have built-in measure functions.
Common mistake: Omitting the measure word entirely — 我要一苹果 → 我要一个苹果 .
语法句型
Numeral + Measure Word + Noun
The standard number-measure phrase before a noun. The measure word must match the noun's category.
我买了三本书。
Wǒ mǎi le sān běn shū.
I bought three books.
桌子上有两杯茶。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu liǎng bēi chá.
There are two cups of tea on the table.
三本在桌子上。
Sān běn zài zhuōzi shàng.
Three of them are on the table.
语法句型
个 — the versatile default measure word
个 is used for people and many objects that lack a dedicated measure word. When unsure, 个 is usually acceptable.
一个学生。
Yí ge xuésheng.
One student.
他家有三口人。
Tā jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén.
There are three people in his family.
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