Lesson 2: 5 Most Common Chinese Measure Words

Updated on May 22, 2024

Welcome to Lesson 2 (Level 1) of Ming Mandarin’s free online Mandarin Chinese lessons.

In this lesson, we’ll  learn 5 most common Chinese measure words (量词, liàng cí).

Let’s go through a list of 5 measure words. Each measure word is associated with five related examples. Then, there are a few questions. The answer keys are provided at the very end of the lesson.

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• Lesson 1 (Level 3): Learn Must Know Famous Chinese Idioms
• Lesson 1 (Level 4): 2 Must Know Famous Ancient Chinese Poems
• Lesson 1 (Level 5): Chinese Reading Practice with Pinyin & English

Chinese measure word 1: 个 (gè)

This is a general measure word. If you don’t know an appropriate measure word, just use 个. However, the natives will know that you are a foreigner. 🙂

个 (gè) examples:

1. One person (yīgè rén, 一个人)
2. Six kids (liù gè háizi, 六个孩子)
3. Two eggs (liǎng gè jīdàn, 两个鸡蛋)
4. One apple (yī gè píngguǒ, 一个苹果)
5. Two cups (liǎng gè bēizi, 两个杯子)

Chinese measure word 2: 本 (běn)

本 is a measure word for books, files, periodicals, etc.

本 (běn) examples:

1. Three books (sān běn shū, 三本书)
2. Several hundred books (几百本书, Jǐ bǎi běn shū)
3. One dictionary (yī běn cídiǎn, 一本词典)
4. One magazine (yī běn zázhì, 一本杂志)
5. One instruction book (technical manual) (yī běn shuōmíng shū, 一本说明书)

• Chinese Measure Words (Part 2)

Chinese measure word 3: 只 (zhī)

只 is a Chinese measure word for certain animals, birds, boats, etc.

只 (zhī) examples:

1. One bird (yī zhī niǎo, 一只鸟)
2. Two magpies (两只喜鹊, liǎng zhī xǐquè)
3. Three monkeys (sān zhī hóuzi, 三只猴子)
4. One giraffe (yī zhī chángjǐng lù, 一只长颈鹿)
5. Three ants (wǔ zhī mǎyǐ, 五只蚂蚁)

Chinese measure word 4: 双 (shuāng)

双 is a measure word for a pair of identical objects, such as shoes, socks, chopsticks, etc.

双 (shuāng) examples:

1. A pair of shoes (yī shuāng xiézi, 一双鞋子)
2. A pair of gloves (yī shuāng shǒutào, 一双手套)
3. Five pairs of chopsticks (wǔ shuāng kuàizi, 五双筷子)
4. Three pairs of socks (sān shuāng wàizi, 三双袜子)
5. In pairs (双双, shuāng shuāng)

双 can also mean “both”:

1. (Both) parents (双亲, shuāng qīn)
2. Both parents are alive (父母双全, fùmǔ shuāng quán)

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Chinese measure word 5: 杯 (bēi)

杯 is a measure word for certain liquid containers: cup, glass.

杯 (bēi) examples:

1. A glass of beer (yī bēi píjiǔ, 一杯啤酒)
2. Two cups of coffee (liǎng bēi kāfēi, 两杯咖啡)
3. Three glasses of milkshake (sān bēi nǎixī, 三杯奶昔)
4. A glass of lemon tea (yī bēi níngméng chá, 一杯柠檬茶)
5. Two glasses of beers (两杯啤酒, liǎng bēi píjiǔ)

Exercises (练习, liànxí)

Fill in the blanks with the correct measure words (选择适当的量词填空, xuǎnzé shìdàng de liàngcí tiánkòng)

• 只 (zhī)  杯 (bēi)  个 (gè)  双 (shuāng) 本 běn

#1 I have three dogs in my family

• 我的家有三 ( ) 狗

#2 I drank a cup of coffee today

• 我今天喝了一 ( ) 咖啡.

#3 Can you pass me that book?

• 你能把那 ( ) 书递给我吗？

#4 What do you think about this pair of shoes?

• 你觉得这 ( ) 鞋子怎么样？

#5 I would like to buy a watermelon.

• 我想买一 ( ) 西瓜.

Answers

 1. 只 (zhī)

2. 杯 (bēi)

3. 本 (běn)

4. 双 (shuāng)

5.个 (gè)

Hope you enjoyed learning 5 most common measure words in this free online lesson. Let me know your inputs in the comments.