How to Use Chinese Measure Words — A List of Common Measure Words
In Chinese, you need a measure word (classifier) whenever you count something. This is similar to how English uses words like “a sheet of paper” or “a cup of coffee” for certain nouns. Since each noun has a specific measure word that goes with it, it’s best to start by learning the most common ones.
The basic pattern: number + measure word + noun
- 三 个 人 (sān ge rén) = 3 people
- 两 本 书 (liǎng běn shū) = 2 books
Note that when counting “two of something,” you use 两 (liǎng) rather than 二 (èr) — see also our guide to counting in Chinese.
A list of common measure words
| Measure word | Pinyin | Typically used for | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 个 | gè | The most general, all-purpose measure word | 一个人 (yí ge rén, 1 person) |
| 本 | běn | Books, notebooks, etc. | 两本书 (liǎng běn shū, 2 books) |
| 张 | zhāng | Flat objects like paper or desks | 一张纸 (yì zhāng zhǐ, 1 sheet of paper) |
| 只 | zhī | Animals, or one of a pair | 一只猫 (yì zhī māo, 1 cat) |
| 杯 | bēi | Beverages served in a cup or glass | 一杯咖啡 (yì bēi kāfēi, 1 cup of coffee) |
| 位 | wèi | Counting people politely | 一位老师 (yí wèi lǎoshī, 1 teacher, polite) |
If you’re ever unsure, you can often substitute the all-purpose measure word 个 (gè).
Summary
- To count things in Chinese, use the pattern number + measure word + noun.
- Each noun has its own measure word — start with common ones like 个 (gè), 本 (běn), 张 (zhāng), and 只 (zhī).
- Use 两 (liǎng) for “two of something,” and remember that 个 (gè) can often stand in when you’re not sure which measure word to use.