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plStructure
In a sentence, a numeral–measure word phrase is often combined with a noun referring to the people or objects being counted. In such cases, the measure word is usually placed between the numeral and the noun or noun phrase.
When zhè 这/這 ‘this’ , nà 那 ‘that’ or nǎ 哪 ‘which’ also modify the noun, they are placed before the numeral.
Functions
1. Counting nouns
Measure words must be used when speaking about the number of items. Most nouns are associated with a particular measure word, which is usually determined by the physical features of the item. Measure are placed after the numeral and before the noun.
Some measure words can indicate a property of the item. For example, it can indicate weight:
It can also indicate amount:
It can indicate shape, too:
Most nouns are associated with a particular measure word, but some can be associated with more than one. Different measure words can modify a noun in different ways, indicating for example shape or a portion of an item. Compare:
When zhè 这/這 ‘this’, nà 那 ‘that’ or nǎ 哪 ‘which’ are used together with yī 一 ‘one’, the numeral is usually ommited.
When the phrase with a measure word is placed after the verb, yī 一 ‘one’ can also be ommited.
The phrase with yī 一, numeral and noun can be used to express a general or indefinite meaning rather than a precise quantity. Compare with examples:
Also check Demonstrative pronouns
Also check Measure words – verbs
2. List of common measure words
The most commonly used measure word is ge 个/個. It can be used for nouns referring people and things:
In informal speech it is sometimes used as a measure word for any noun.
Other commonly used measure words are listed in the table below.
| Measure word | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bēi 杯 | container for a liquid (like cup, glass or mug) | 一杯茶 (one cup of tea) yì bēi chá 一杯咖啡 (one cup of coffee) yì bēi kāfēi |
| běn 本 | volume, bound printed material | 一本书/一本書 (one book) yì běn shū 一本词典/一本詞典 (one dictionary) yì běn cídiǎn |
| céng 层/層 | layer, floor of a building | 一层楼/一層樓 (one floor) yì céng lóu 一层灰/一層灰 (one layer of dust) yì céng huī |
| fēng 封 | letters, e-mails | 一封信 (one letter) yì fēng xìn 一封邮件/一封郵件 (one e-mail) yì fēng yóujiàn |
| jiā 家 | businesses, enterprises | 一家超市 (one supermarket) yì jiā chāoshì 一家公司 (one firm) yì jiā gōngsī |
| jiàn 件 | clothes worn on upper body, events, official documents | 一件毛衣 (one sweater) yí jiàn máoyī 一件事情 (one matter) yí jiàn shìqíng |
| kǒu 口 | family members, mouthfuls | 一口人 (one family member) yì kǒu rén 一口水 (one mouthful of water) yì kǒu shuǐ |
| kuài 块/塊 | pieces, lumps | 一块蛋糕/一塊蛋糕 (one piece of cake) yí kuài dàngāo 一块豆腐/一塊豆腐 (one piece of tofu) yí kuài dòufu |
| tiáo 条/條 | long, narrow and thin objects, clothes worn on lower body | 一条裤子/一條褲子 (one pair of trousers) yì tiáo kùzi 一条路/一條路 (one road) yì tiáo lù |
| wèi 位 | people (polite, respectful) | 一位客人 (one guest) yí wèi kèren 一位专家/一位專家 (one specialist) yí wèi zhuānjiā |
| yè 页/頁 | written or printed pages | 一页纸/一頁紙 (one written page) yí yè zhǐ 一页字/一頁字 (one page of characters) yí yè zì |
3. Measure words related to time
Some nouns related to time can function as measure words themselves. The numeral may be placed directly before them, and no other measure word is added.
Some nouns denoting a time period can appear both with and without a measure word.
Some nouns denoting a time period must necessarily be combined with a measure word (omitting the measure word may result in a change of meaning).