Introduce：Chinese Measure Words
Modern Chinese uses measure words frequently .We have to insert a measure word between a number and a noun.
e.g. one person；一個[个]人；yí gè rén
Most of nouns have one or more appropriate measure words.
It often depends on the nature of the things/stuffs which they denote.
Therefore, you may can guess the nature of of the things/stuffs by measure words before you hear/read the name of things/stuffs. (but it's not for 100%.)
Therefore, you may can guess the nature of of the things/stuffs by measure words before you hear/read the name of things/stuffs. (but it's not for 100%.)
e.g. for animals；隻[只] zhī
one dog；一隻狗；yì zhī gǒu
e.g. for round objects；顆[颗] kē
two balls；兩顆球；liǎng kē qiú
「個 gè」：The measure word which is versatile use
「個 gè」is versatile use than all measure words
If you are a beginner and not yet memorize any measure words, you can use「個 gè」for all things/stuffs. People still can understand. But it's still wrong.
It's better to try to memorize more and more measure words.
If you are a beginner and not yet memorize any measure words, you can use「個 gè」for all things/stuffs. People still can understand. But it's still wrong.
It's better to try to memorize more and more measure words.
Measure words of verb
Some actions can be repeated several times.
So,they also need a measure word.
e.g. hit one time；
So,they also need a measure word.
e.g. hit one time；
打一下；
dǎ yí xià
e.g. watch one time；
看一次；
kàn yí cì
Some measure words for verb is the nouns which related the actions.
Some measure words for verb is the nouns which related the actions.
e.g. have a bite；
吃 一 口；
eat one mouth
chī yì kǒu
e.g. give a shout；
叫 一 聲[声]；
shout one voice
jiào yì shēng
e.g. hack one time；
砍 一 刀；
hack one knife
kǎn yì dāo
We can omit measure word once using adjective to modify the quantity
e.g. a lot of things；
很多(的)事；
hěn duō (de) shì
e.g. less things；
很少(的)事；
hěn shǎo (de) shì
If the adjective is not for modifying the quantity, you can add "number +measure word" to enhance the tone.
e.g. good thing(s)；
很好的事；
hěn hǎo de shì
很好的一件事；
hěn hǎo de yí jiàn shì
You can turn the sequence of adjective and measure word freely, and the number need to be moved together with measure word .
e.g. a good thing； 很好的一件事；
hěn hǎo de yí jiàn shì
e.g. a good thing；
一件很好的事；
yí jiàn hěn hǎo de shì
這 很好的 一件 事。
Once using measure word with demonstrative pronoun：
＊ We can omit the quantity when using with demonstrative pronoun.
e.g. this thing；
e.g. this thing；
這[这]一件事；
zhè yí jiàn shì
e.g. this thing；
這件事；
zhè jiàn shì
When using measure word for verb, we should the demonstrative pronoun in front of number.
e.g. have this bite；
吃 這 一 口；
eat this one mouth
chī zhè yì kǒu
You can use different sentence patterns to describe a thing as below.
You can use different sentence patterns to describe a thing as below.
This thing is good.
這 一件 事 很好。
這 一件 事 很好。
this one thing good
zhè yí jiàn shì hěn hǎo
This good thing.
這 一件 很好的 事。
zhè yí jiàn shì hěn hǎo
This good thing.
這 一件 很好的 事。
this one good thing
zhè yí jiàn hěn hǎo de shì
This is a good thing.
這 是 一件 好 事。
This is a good thing.
這 是 一件 好 事。
this is one good thing
zhè shì yí jiàn hǎo shì
The thing which is good.這 很好的 一件 事。
this good one thing
zhè hěn hǎo de yí jiàn shì
Exceptions and special case
Usage for「一 yī」with repetition measure words
There are some usages for「一 yī」with repetition measure words.
The meaning becomes "each or every" .
It's similar with "one after another " ,so it's used for the plural things/stuffs.
e.g. things which one after another
一件件事
yí jiàn jiàn shì
e.g. things which one after another make me grow
一件件事讓我成長
yí jiàn jiàn (de) shì ràng wǒ chéng zhǎng
To omit measure words for some combinations
It depends on how do people are used to using, there is no rule here.
e.g. one people；
e.g. one people；
一人；
yì rén
e.g. one male and female；
一男一女；
yì nán yì nǚ
Some measure words has attribute of quantity in nature.
Some measure words are including the meaning for quantity.
e.g. pair；雙[双]；shuāng
one pair of shoes；
one pair of shoes；
一雙鞋；
yì shuāng xié
e.g. group/flock；群；qún
two flock of sheep；
兩[两]群羊；
liǎng qún yáng
e.g. set /team；組；zǔ
three set of tools；
三組[组]工具；
sān zǔ gōn gjù
There are some nouns can be used as a measure word.
Some vocabularies are containers, they can be used as a measure word.
e.g. three carts of food；
三 車[车] 食物；
three cart food
sān chē shíwù
e.g. a glass of water；
一 杯 水；
one cup water
yì bēi shuǐ
Special case
story of whole lifetime；
When「一 yī」has another meaning：
「一 yī」means "each" here.
The word after「一 yī」becomes a unit instead of a measure word.
The word after「一 yī」becomes a unit instead of a measure word.
e.g. each class 20 people
一 班 二十 人
一 班 二十 人
one class 20 people
yì bān èr shí rén
yì bān èr shí rén
e.g. each page 600 words
一 頁[页] 六百 字
one page 600 words
yí yè liù bǎi zì
yí yè liù bǎi zì
e.g. each team 20 people
一 隊[队] 二十 人
一 隊[队] 二十 人
one team 20 people
yí duì èr shí rén
yí duì èr shí rén
Special case
一生 的 故事；
lifetime story
yì shēng de gù shì
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