Verbal measure words: 次, 遍, 趟, 顿, 场
量词 / measure words
Tone colorsā tone 1á tone 2ǎ tone 3à tone 4a neutral
To count how many times an action happens, put a verbal measure word after the verb:
- 次 (cì): time, the most general.
- 遍 (biàn): time, from start to finish: 这本书我看了两遍 (read it through twice).
- 趟 (tàng): a round trip, a journey: 回了一趟老家.
- 顿 (dùn): for meals (and scoldings): 吃了一顿饺子, 骂了他一顿.
- 场 (chǎng): a session, match, show, downpour: 看了一场电影, 下了一场雨.
Order: a common noun object comes after the measure word (看了一场电影); a personal pronoun comes before (骂了他一顿).
Examples
春节我回了一趟老家。
Chūnjié wǒ huí le yí tàng lǎojiā.I made a trip back to my hometown for Spring Festival.
除夕晚上，全家人一起吃了一顿年夜饭。
Chúxī wǎnshang, quánjiārén yìqǐ chī le yí dùn niányèfàn.On New Year's Eve, the whole family had the reunion dinner together.
这个故事我听过好几遍了。
Zhège gùshi wǒ tīng guo hǎo jǐ biàn le.I've heard this story quite a few times.
昨晚我们看了一场演出。
Zuó wǎn wǒmen kàn le yì chǎng yǎnchū.Last night we watched a performance.
Common mistakes
✗ 我两次去过北京。 → the verbal measure word follows the verb. ✓ 我去过两次北京。/ 我去过北京两次。
吃了一次饭 isn't wrong, but 吃了一顿饭 is far more natural for a meal.