Measure words: 个, 本, 口, 杯…
【一08】【一23】名量词 / 数量短语
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
In Chinese you can't put a number right next to a noun. A measure word must go in between, a bit like “a cup of tea” or “a slice of bread”: except in Chinese it's required for every noun.
The most useful ones at level 1:
• 个 (ge): the all-rounder (people, things), 一个人, 三个学生
• 本 (běn): books, notebooks, 两本书
• 口 (kǒu): family members, 三口人
• 杯 (bēi): cups, glasses, 一杯茶
• 家 (jiā): shops, restaurants, 五家商店
• 间 (jiān): rooms, 六间房子
• 块 (kuài): pieces, 七块面包
• 页 (yè): pages
The “number + measure word” unit (两杯, 三本…) is a numeral phrase. When in doubt, 个 is often acceptable in speech.
Examples
我有三本中文书。
Wǒ yǒu sān běn Zhōngwén shū.I have three Chinese books.
我家有四口人。
Wǒ jiā yǒu sì kǒu rén.There are four people in my family.
请给我两杯牛奶。
Qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng bēi niúnǎi.Two glasses of milk, please.
这儿有五家商店。
Zhèr yǒu wǔ jiā shāngdiàn.There are five shops here.
这个学生很认真。
Zhège xuésheng hěn rènzhēn.This student is very diligent.
Common mistakes
✗ 三书 → ✓ 三本书.
✗ 两个口人 → ✓ 两口人 (only one measure word).
Tone: 一个 is read yí ge (个 is originally 4th tone).