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Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese 量词 (liàngcí)

Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese 量词 (liàngcí) 🏡 我的周末 Wǒ de zhōumòMy Weekend 上个周末,我去了一家商店,买了一条裤子和一件衣服。Shàng gè zhōumò, wǒ qù le yì jiā shāngdiàn, mǎi le yì tiáo kùzi hé yí jiàn […]

Measure Words in Mandarin Chinese 量词 (liàngcí)

🏡 我的周末
Wǒ de zhōumò
My Weekend

上个周末,我去了一家商店,买了一条裤子和一件衣服。
Shàng gè zhōumò, wǒ qù le yì jiā shāngdiàn, mǎi le yì tiáo kùzi hé yí jiàn yīfu.
Last weekend, I went to a store and bought a pair of pants and a shirt.

我还买了一些苹果,一份报纸,和一点儿面包。
Wǒ hái mǎi le yì xiē píngguǒ, yí fèn bàozhǐ, hé yì diǎnr miànbāo.
I also bought some apples, a newspaper, and a little bread.

回家的路上,我看到一位老师在教几名学生。
Huí jiā de lùshàng, wǒ kàn dào yí wèi lǎoshī zài jiāo jǐ míng xuéshēng.
On the way home, I saw a teacher teaching a few students.

晚上,我看了一场电影,然后读了一段故事。
Wǎnshang, wǒ kàn le yì chǎng diànyǐng, ránhòu dú le yí duàn gùshì.
In the evening, I watched a movie and then read a short story.

电影里有一匹马跑得很快,还有两头牛在吃草。
Diànyǐng lǐ yǒu yì pǐ mǎ pǎo de hěn kuài, hái yǒu liǎng tóu niú zài chī cǎo.
In the movie, a horse ran fast, and two cows were eating grass.

我写了三句中文,也做了两项作业。
Wǒ xiě le sān jù Zhōngwén, yě zuò le liǎng xiàng zuòyè.
I wrote three Chinese sentences and did two assignments.

我用了十五分钟完成作业,得了一百分!
Wǒ yòng le shíwǔ fēnzhōng wánchéng zuòyè, dé le yì bǎi fēn!
I spent 15 minutes finishing the homework and got 100 points!

我觉得这个周末很开心,去了三处地方,也学了一些中文。
Wǒ juéde zhège zhōumò hěn kāixīn, qù le sān chù dìfang, yě xué le yì xiē Zhōngwén.
I think this weekend was great—I went to three places and learned some Chinese.

 

In Mandarin Chinese, measure words (also called classifiers, 量词 liàngcí) are used between numbers (or demonstratives like “this” or “that”) and nouns.

Unlike in English, you cannot say “one book” directly in Chinese. You must say:

👉 一本书 (yì běn shū) – “one [measure word] book”

Think of measure words like saying:

“a piece of paper”

“a slice of bread”

In Chinese, this applies to almost every noun.

No

Measure Words

Pinyin

Used For

Examples in Sentences

1general (people, things)1.👩‍🦰 People (a person)
我有一个朋友。
Wǒ yǒu yí gè péngyǒu.
I have a friend.

2. 🍎 Objects (a fruit, e.g. apple)
他吃了一个苹果。
Tā chī le yí gè píngguǒ.
He ate an apple.
2kuàipieces of cloth, cake, soap, etc.; money and currency units (colloquial)1. 🍰 Pieces of cake, bread, or food
我吃了一块蛋糕。
Wǒ chī le yí kuài dàngāo.
I ate a piece of cake.

2. 🧼 Pieces of soap or solid items
桌子上有一块香皂。
Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yí kuài xiāngzào.
There is a bar of soap on the table.

3. 🧵 Pieces of cloth or fabric
奶奶买了一块布。
Nǎinai mǎi le yí kuài bù.
Grandma bought a piece of cloth.

4. 💰 Colloquial unit for money (like yuan)
这本书十块钱。
Zhè běn shū shí kuài qián.
This book costs 10 yuan.
3zhī birds and certain animals, one of a pair, some utensils, boats and small vessels, etc.1. 🐦 Bird (鸟 niǎo)
树上有一只鸟。
Shù shàng yǒu yì zhī niǎo.
There is a bird in the tree.

2. 🐱 Birds and certain animals
我有一只猫。
Wǒ yǒu yì zhī māo.
I have a cat.

3. 🧤 One of a pair (e.g., gloves, shoes)
我丢了一只手套。
Wǒ diū le yì zhī shǒutào.
I lost one glove.

4. 🍴 Some utensils (e.g., chopsticks, spoons)
他拿着一只勺子。
Tā ná zhe yì zhī sháozi.
He is holding a spoon.

5. 🚤 Small boats
湖上有一只小船。
Hú shàng yǒu yì zhī xiǎo chuán.
There is a small boat on the lake.
4běn books, parts of a serial, etc.1. 📖 Books (书 shū)
我有一本中文书。
Wǒ yǒu yì běn Zhōngwén shū.
I have a Chinese book.

2. 📓 Notebooks (笔记本 bǐjìběn)
她买了三本笔记本。
Tā mǎi le sān běn bǐjìběn.
She bought three notebooks.

3. 📘 Magazines / serial publications (杂志 zázhì)
这是一本新杂志。
Zhè shì yì běn xīn zázhì.
This is a new magazine.
5liàngvehicles1. 🚗 Car (汽车 qìchē)
我有一辆汽车。
Wǒ yǒu yí liàng qìchē.
I have a car.

2. 🚲 Bicycle (自行车 zìxíngchē)
他骑着一辆自行车。
Tā qí zhe yí liàng zìxíngchē.
He is riding a bicycle.

3. 🚌 Bus (公交车 gōngjiāochē)
一辆公交车到了。
Yí liàng gōngjiāochē dào le.
A bus has arrived.
6píngquantity contained in a bottle, vase, jar or flask1. 🥤 Bottle of water (水 shuǐ)
我买了一瓶水。
Wǒ mǎi le yì píng shuǐ.
I bought a bottle of water.

2. 🍶 Bottle of soy sauce (酱油 jiàngyóu)
厨房里有一瓶酱油。
Chúfáng lǐ yǒu yì píng jiàngyóu.
There is a bottle of soy sauce in the kitchen.

3. 🌸 Vase of flowers (花 huā)
桌子上放着一瓶花。
Zhuōzi shàng fàngzhe yì píng huā.
There is a vase of flowers on the table.

4. 🔥 Flask of hot water (热水 rèshuǐ)
奶奶带了一瓶热水。
Nǎinai dài le yì píng rèshuǐ.
Grandma brought a flask of hot water.
7bēicertain containers of liquids: cup, glass1. ☕ A cup of tea (茶 chá)
我喝了一杯茶。
Wǒ hē le yì bēi chá.
I drank a cup of tea.

2. 🥛 A cup of milk (牛奶 niúnǎi)
孩子早上喝一杯牛奶。
Háizi zǎoshang hē yì bēi niúnǎi.
The child drinks a cup of milk in the morning.

3. 🧃 A glass of juice (果汁 guǒzhī)
她要一杯果汁。
Tā yào yì bēi guǒzhī.
She wants a glass of juice.
8shuāngpairs (of shoes, socks, chopsticks, etc.)1. 👟 Shoes (鞋子 xiézi)
我买了一双新鞋。
Wǒ mǎi le yì shuāng xīn xié.
I bought a new pair of shoes.

2. 🧦 Socks (袜子 wàzi)
他穿了一双红袜子。
Tā chuān le yì shuāng hóng wàzi.
He wore a pair of red socks.

3. 🥢 Chopsticks (筷子 kuàizi)
请给我一双筷子。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì shuāng kuàizi.
Please give me a pair of chopsticks.
9jiànclothes, events, things, etc.1. 👕 Clothes (衣服 yīfu)
我买了一件衣服。
Wǒ mǎi le yí jiàn yīfu.
I bought a piece of clothing.

2. 🎉 Events (e.g., birthday party, meeting, celebration)
昨天我们有一件生日派对。
Zuótiān wǒmen yǒu yí jiàn shēngrì pàiduì.
Yesterday we had a birthday party.

3. 📦 General Things / Items (e.g., luggage 行李 xíngli)
他带了一件行李。
Tā dài le yí jiàn xíngli.
He brought a piece of luggage.
10zhāngflat objects and sheets (bed, desk, paper, etc.); certain body parts (face, mouth)1. 📄 Flat Objects – Paper (纸 zhǐ)
老师给我一张纸。
Lǎoshī gěi wǒ yì zhāng zhǐ.
The teacher gave me a piece of paper.

2. 🛏️ Flat Objects – Bed (床 chuáng)
他买了一张床。
Tā mǎi le yì zhāng chuáng.
He bought a bed.

3. 🪑 Flat Objects – Table (桌子 zhuōzi)
房间里有一张桌子。
Fángjiān lǐ yǒu yì zhāng zhuōzi.
There is a table in the room.

4. 😊 Body Parts – Face (脸 liǎn)
他有一张可爱的脸。
Tā yǒu yì zhāng kě’ài de liǎn.
He has a cute face.

5. 👄 Body Parts – Mouth (嘴 zuǐ)
他张开了一张嘴。
Tā zhāngkāi le yì zhāng zuǐ.
He opened his mouth.
11wǎnmeasurement of food and drink (bowl)1. 🍚 A bowl of rice (米饭 mǐfàn)
我吃了一碗米饭。
Wǒ chī le yì wǎn mǐfàn.
I ate a bowl of rice.

2. 🍜 A bowl of noodles (面条 miàntiáo)
她要一碗面条。
Tā yào yì wǎn miàntiáo.
She wants a bowl of noodles.

3. 🍲 A bowl of soup (汤 tāng)
妈妈煮了一碗汤。
Māma zhǔ le yì wǎn tāng.
Mom cooked a bowl of soup.
12bēicertain containers of liquids: cup, glass1. ☕ A cup of tea (茶 chá)
我喝了一杯茶。
Wǒ hē le yì bēi chá.
I drank a cup of tea.

2. 🥛 A cup of milk (牛奶 niúnǎi)
孩子早上喝一杯牛奶。
Háizi zǎoshang hē yì bēi niúnǎi.
The child drinks a cup of milk in the morning.

3. 🧃 A glass of juice (果汁 guǒzhī)
她要一杯果汁。
Tā yào yì bēi guǒzhī.
She wants a glass of juice.
13horses, mules; bolts of cloth1.🐎 Horses or mules
他骑着一匹马。
Tā qí zhe yì pǐ mǎ.
He is riding a horse.

2.🐴 Mules or donkeys
村里有三匹骡子。
Cūn lǐ yǒu sān pǐ luózi.
There are three mules in the village.

3.🧵 Bolts of cloth
我们买了两匹布做窗帘。
Wǒmen mǎi le liǎng pǐ bù zuò chuānglián.
We bought two bolts of cloth to make curtains.
14tóucertain domestic animals (cattles, mules, pigs, etc.); garlic1.🐄 Cattle (e.g., cow or ox)
农场里有一头牛。
Nóngchǎng lǐ yǒu yì tóu niú.
There is a cow on the farm.

2.🐐 Goats--
他们养了几头羊。
Tāmen yǎng le jǐ tóu yáng.
They raise several goats.

3.🐴 Mules or donkeys
那是一头老骡子。
Nà shì yì tóu lǎo luózi.
That is an old mule.

4.🧄 Garlic (whole bulbs)
我买了一头大蒜。
Wǒ mǎi le yì tóu dàsuàn.
I bought a bulb of garlic.
15tiáolong, narrow or thin objects (ribbon, river, road, trousers, etc.)1.🏞️ River
这是一条美丽的河。
Zhè shì yì tiáo měilì de hé.
This is a beautiful river.

2.🛣️ Road or street
他们住在一条安静的街上。
Tāmen zhù zài yì tiáo ānjìng de jiē shàng.
They live on a quiet street.

3.👖 Trousers or pants
我买了一条新裤子。
Wǒ mǎi le yì tiáo xīn kùzi.
I bought a new pair of pants.

4.🐍 Snake (long and thin animal)
我看到了一条蛇!
Wǒ kàn dào le yì tiáo shé!
I saw a snake!
16wèipeople (courteous)1. 👨‍🏫 Teacher
这位老师很有经验。
Zhè wèi lǎoshī hěn yǒu jīngyàn.
This teacher is very experienced.

2.👩‍⚕️ Doctor
那位医生救了很多人。
Nà wèi yīshēng jiù le hěn duō rén.
That doctor has saved many people.

3.👨‍💼 Customer or guest
请问这位先生点了什么?
Qǐngwèn zhè wèi xiānshēng diǎn le shénme?
Excuse me, what did this gentleman order?

4.👵 Elder or respected person
这位老人非常亲切。
Zhè wèi lǎorén fēicháng qīnqiè.
This elderly person is very kind.
17xiàngitemized things (clauses, tasks, research projects, etc.)1.📋 Task or duty
我还有一项任务没完成。
Wǒ hái yǒu yí xiàng rènwù méi wánchéng.
I still have one task to finish.

2.📄 Clause or rule
这是一项新的规定。
Zhè shì yí xiàng xīn de guīdìng.
This is a new regulation.

3.🔬 Research project
他们正在进行一项重要的研究。
Tāmen zhèngzài jìnxíng yí xiàng zhòngyào de yánjiū.
They are conducting an important research project.

4.🏅 Competition entry or category
他参加了三项比赛。
Tā cānjiā le sān xiàng bǐsài.
He participated in three events.
18míngpeople1.🎓 Student
他是一名大学生。
Tā shì yì míng dàxuéshēng.
He is a university student.

2.🧑‍🏫 Teacher
我们请来了一名老师。
Wǒmen qǐng lái le yì míng lǎoshī.
We invited a teacher.

3.🧑‍⚕️ Doctor
她是一名医生,在医院工作。
Tā shì yì míng yīshēng, zài yīyuàn gōngzuò.
She is a doctor and works in a hospital.

4.🕵️ Reporter / professional
那是一名记者。
Nà shì yì míng jìzhě.
That is a journalist.
19xiēa small amount or small number (greater than one)1. 🍪 Snacks or food items
我带了一些饼干。
Wǒ dài le yìxiē bǐnggān.
I brought some cookies.

2.📚 Books or items
她买了一些书。
Tā mǎi le yìxiē shū.
She bought some books.

3.👥 People or friends
我认识一些人。
Wǒ rènshi yìxiē rén.
I know some people.

4.🕒 Time-related / waiting
请再等一些时间。
Qǐng zài děng yìxiē shíjiān.
Please wait a bit longer.
20jiāfamilies or business establishments1.🏠 Family or household
他们是一家人。
Tāmen shì yì jiā rén.
They are one family.

2.🏢 Company or enterprise
他在一家大公司工作。
Tā zài yì jiā dà gōngsī gōngzuò.
He works at a big company.
21点(儿)diǎn(‘er)a little; a bit; some1.🍚 Food
我想吃点儿米饭。
Wǒ xiǎng chī diǎnr mǐfàn.
I want to eat a bit of rice.

2.💧 Water or drink
请给我点儿水。
Qǐng gěi wǒ diǎnr shuǐ.
Please give me a little water.

3.🕰️ Time
再等一点儿时间。
Zài děng yì diǎnr shíjiān.
Wait a bit longer.

4.😠 Emotion or attitude
他有点儿生气。
Tā yǒu diǎnr shēngqì.
He’s a little angry.
22chángrecreational, sports or other activities1.🎬 Movie or performance
我们看了一场电影。
Wǒmen kàn le yì chǎng diànyǐng.
We watched a movie.

2.🏀 Sports game or match
昨天有一场篮球比赛。
Zuótiān yǒu yì chǎng lánqiú bǐsài.
There was a basketball game yesterday.

3.🎭 Theater play or show
他们去看了一场话剧。
Tāmen qù kàn le yì chǎng huàjù.
They went to watch a stage play.

4.🌧️ Natural event (e.g., rainstorm)
昨天下了一场大雨。
Zuótiān xià le yì chǎng dàyǔ.
It rained heavily yesterday.
23sentences1.💬 Sentence
他说了一句中文。
Tā shuō le yí jù Zhōngwén.
He said a sentence in Chinese.

2.📖 From a book or quote
这是一句名言。
Zhè shì yí jù míngyán.
This is a famous saying.

3.🙏 Polite phrase or thanks
谢谢是一句礼貌的话。
Xièxie shì yí jù lǐmào de huà.
“Thank you” is a polite phrase.
24duànstories, periods of time, lengths of thread, etc. (a section, segment or part)1.📖 Part of a story or text
我读了一段故事。
Wǒ dú le yí duàn gùshì.
I read part of a story.

2.🕰️ Period of time
我有一段开心的时间。
Wǒ yǒu yí duàn kāixīn de shíjiān.
I had a happy time.

3.🧵 Length of thread or rope
他有一段绳子。
Tā yǒu yí duàn shéngzi.
He has a piece of rope.

4.🛣️ Section of road
我们走了一段路。
Wǒmen zǒu le yí duàn lù.
We walked a section of road.
25fènspoken form of fractions and percentages; minutes; various units of measure1.🕒 Minutes
我等了五分钟。
Wǒ děng le wǔ fēnzhōng.
I waited for five minutes.

2.📊 Score / percentage
他考试得了一百分。
Tā kǎoshì dé le yì bǎi fēn.
He got 100 points on the test.

3.➗ Fraction
我吃了三分之一的蛋糕。
Wǒ chī le sānfēn zhī yī de dàngāo.
I ate one third of the cake.

4.📄 Share or portion (measure word: fèn)
我买了一份报纸。
Wǒ mǎi le yí fèn bàozhǐ.
I bought a newspaper.
26chù places, occurrences or activities in different places; items of damage (spot, point)1.🏞️ Place / location
这是一处很美的风景。
Zhè shì yí chù hěn měi de fēngjǐng.
This is a beautiful place.

2.🏠 Spot in a house or building
墙上有一处破了。
Qiáng shàng yǒu yí chù pò le.
There’s a broken spot on the wall.

3.🔧 Point of damage
这辆车有两处坏了。
Zhè liàng chē yǒu liǎng chù huài le.
This car has two damaged spots.

4.📍 Occurrence or location
我们去过三处。
Wǒmen qù guò sān chù.
We have been to three places.
27piànslices, tablets, tracts of land, areas of water; CDs, movies, DVDs; scenes, feelings, atmospheres, etc.
28tàobooks, furniture, rooms, methods, remarks (a set, suit or suite)
29zuòmountains, buildings and other immovable objects
30works of literature, films, machines, etc.
31written items
32cénglayers, stratums (a storey, a floor)
33yàngkind, type
34qúnpeople or animals (a group, herd, flock or pack)
35jièevents, meetings, elections, sporting fixtures, years (of graduation)
36zhīlong, thin, inflexible objects (pens, guns); rods; army divisions; songs or compositions
37batches, lots, groups
38piānpaper, book leaves, written items, articles, etc. (sheet, leaf, piece)
39fānactions, deeds; occurances (of an event, action or speech utterance); situations (kind, sort)
40smells, smoke, etc. (puff, whiff); sudden, forceful actions; long winding things (ropes, rivers); bands of people
41shǒusongs and poems
42shēngsounds
43roundish objects (small spheres, pearls, corn grains, teeth, hearts, satellites, etc.)
44sets, series, groups of people, batteries
45zhǎnlamps
46kǒuthings with mouths (people, domestic animals, cannons, wells, etc.)
47objects with handles; small objects (a handful); certain abstract concepts
48jiānrooms; sections of rooms
49sums of money, financial accounts, debts, deals, etc.
50suǒhouses, small buildings, institutions, etc. (schools, hospitals, etc.)
51duìpair, couple
52gēnlong, thin objects (cigarettes, guitar strings, etc.)
53textiles or pictures
54chūdramas, plays, operas, etc.
55dàolong, narrow objects; doors, walls; orders, questions; courses in a meal, stages in a procedure, etc.
56people (group; batch)
57duìfiles, lines or rows
58duīheaps or piles; crowds
59zhènevents or states of short duration
60miànflat things or surfaces (drums, mirrors, flags); the number of times people meet each other
61táimachinery, apparatus, instruments, etc.; a complete stage performance
62games (match, set, round, etc.)
63plants
64small box, case
65households or families
66dònghouses or buildings
67jiésegments (lessons, train wagons, biblical verses, etc.)
68fēngsealed objects (letters or other things in envelopes)
69bāna group of people; a trip by bus, boat, etc.
70pánfood (dish, helping); coils of wire; games of chess
71pairs, sets of things and facial expressions
72tàngtimes, round trips or rows
73kuǎnversions or models (of a product)
74tuánlumps or soft masses (wad of paper, ball of wool, cloud or smoke)
75shùbunches, bundles, beams of light, etc.
76ménsubjects of study or fields of technical training
77jiàmachines, airplanes and instrument which rest on a tripod or stand
78dùnmeals, beatings, scoldings, etc. (time, bout, spell, meal)
79walls
80bottled liquid (kettle, pot, bottle, flask)
81duǒflowers and clouds
82páilines, rows
83fènshares, parts or portions (of a whole); copies (of documents, newspapers, periodicals, etc.)
84devices, coffins or dead bodies
85bāopackages, bundles or sacks
86guànjars, pots or tins
87grainlike things; small round things (peas, bullets, peanuts, pills, grains, etc.)
88juànsmall rolled things (wad of paper money, movie reel, spool, etc.)
89tángclasses, lectures, etc.; sets of furniture
90occurrences or unpredictable events (case, instance); groups (batch, group)
91zhīflowers with stems intact; sticks, rods, pencils, etc.
92zhūplants and small trees; seedlings
93lúnbig round objects (disk, sun, moon); recurring events (round, turn)
94zhuōtables of guests at a banquet; table; tableful
95tǒngbuckets, pails, cans, barrels, tubs, kegs
96drops
97chuàna string of things (string, bunch, cluster)
98lièa series or row of things
99xiānglarge boxes, cases, trunks
100shàndoors and windows
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