Chinese Measure Words Explained

What Chinese measure words are, how to use 个, 只, 本 and more, with the most common ones and examples.

Measure words (classifiers) go between a number or "this/that" and a noun in Chinese: 三个人 (three people). When unsure, use 个 (gè), the all-purpose measure word.

The pattern

number or this/that + measure word + noun

• 三个人 (sān gè rén): three people
• 这本书 (zhè běn shū): this book
• 一只猫 (yì zhī māo): a cat

Most common measure words

• 个 (gè): people and many objects
• 本 (běn): books. 两本书
• 只 (zhī): small animals. 一只狗
• 张 (zhāng): flat things like paper. 三张票
• 杯 (bēi): cups and glasses. 一杯茶
• 条 (tiáo): long, thin things. 一条鱼
• 辆 (liàng): vehicles. 一辆车

"Two" is 两, not 二

To count things, use 两 (liǎng): 两个人, not 二个人.

Skip long lists. Learn each noun with its measure word: 一本书, not just 书.

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