Questions tagged [measure-word]

For questions about measure words and classifiers (量詞 or 量词), e.g., 個/个, 雙/双, 張/张

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Is the structure of 五虎上将 the same as 三好学生?

Today I read the Romance of Three Kingdoms and found that there is a title awarded to the five generals 五虎上将. First I thought that 虎 was a measure word like 个, but there seems no other examples to ...
NanningYouth's user avatar
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3 answers
146 views

Omission of Measure words in Mandarin

Here are some examples which I have found in genuine Chinese textbooks and material. They all have a measure word omitted for unknown reasons. 我把这()事儿忘了。 您觉得这()音乐怎么样? 第三()医院 这()书房干净吗? 亿光四()大产品
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
136 views

Meanings of the various measure words for 房子

There are several measure words or classifiers that we can use with the Chinese noun 房子 fángzi. The ones I've come across are 棟 dòng, 幢 zhuàng, 座 zuò, 所 suǒ, 套 tào and 間 jiān. Now I know measure words ...
Ángel José Riesgo's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
122 views

What’s with “一题问题”?

Duolingo keeps drilling me on this sentence: 我不懂这一题问题 My question is, why “一题问题”? It looks to me as though 一题, coming as it does after 这, were being used as a classifier for 问题. But according to ...
Paul Tanenbaum's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Why do you say 個 in 我接個電話?

I think I have seen a scene like this several times in (Taiwanese) TV dramas: You are talking with someone when your phone rings. You say to that person 我接個電話 and go on to answer the phone. I might be ...
aguijonazo's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
79 views

他一叠声应着 How does 叠 work here?

for 他一叠声应着 I know what yidiesheng means repeat the sound, but I just wanted to know the structure is die a measure word here? A pile of sounds? It doesn't actually say anything like that in the ...
ToniToni's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
257 views

How did Chinese develop so many different classifiers?

One of the weirdest things about Chinese is the classifier. It's 一栋楼, not 一个楼, and 一只鱼, not 一个鱼. My question is: how (and why) did Chinese develop so many different classifiers? It makes sense to me ...
mucube's user avatar
  • 106
1 vote
3 answers
54 views

Using determiners with mass nouns

How would one use determiners(這/那)with mass nouns like 水? I don't mean like phrases like 這杯水, where it's talking about a glass of water, but more like a large body of water, steam, or river.
Tosaku's user avatar
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2 votes
0 answers
96 views

Can classifiers be used poetically?

Does anyone know of literary uses of classifiers being used for objects that they wouldn't normally be used for? Like perhaps you could use 条 for people to dehumanize them (as though they were fish) ...
Buddy L's user avatar
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What does 李友的一篇日记 mean?

For context, this is from lesson eight of Integrated Chinese. I know 李友的 means "Li You's" and 一篇日记 is "a/one dictionary", but 李友的一篇日记 together doesn't make sense to me. Is it just ...
Tosaku's user avatar
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Words 课 and 路 act as measure words

During my studies, I came across these sentences: a) 这课容易吗? b) 请问去王府井是不是坐这路车? It seems that in these examples, the words 课 and 路 act as measure-words. Because the measure-word for 课 is 堂. So, I guess ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
4 votes
4 answers
359 views

Adjectives before or after classifiers in Chinese

So far, I have learned that adjectives come after classifiers and before nouns. For example, 一只黑猫:a black cat During my studies, I came across this sentence: 他在自己家附近的一间办公室里工作。 In this sentence, 自己家附近 ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
141 views

General-purpose 个 measure word instead of special measure word

The measure word 个 is often said to be the general-purpose measure word for nouns that the speaker doesn't know its measure-word. On the other hand, some nouns have well-established measure words. Let'...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
133 views

Why is the word 个 omitted before 国 in a question like 你是哪国人?

I've read in the Chinese Grammar Wiki, that if you want to express "which", you have to use the following sentence structure: Subj. + Verb + 哪个 (+ Noun) ? But in the book HSK Standard ...
HSK1's user avatar
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2 answers
135 views

Why are measure words omitted after specifiers and before some verbs?

这(个)是我的,this is mine: Before 是,normally I would omit 个 这没有道理, this doesn't make sense: Before 有 I would find 个 strange. Although maybe that is because 有道理 is an abstract concept. If I was talking ...
Buddy L's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
448 views

一 [份/个/项] 工作??? What is the difference?

Not sure if there is actually a difference, but I see the word 工作 used with different measure words and I've never got to the bottom of what the difference is. I recently saw 换一份工作, so I guess that is ...
Hashamyim's user avatar
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5 votes
5 answers
270 views

Optional measure words

I've seen many times that some nouns are used with and without measure words. Is it optional to use measure words with certain words? The most notable ones I have come across, 星期 下星期,下个星期 一星期,两个星期 ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
2 votes
5 answers
913 views

The measure word for 本子: 一个本子 or 一本本子

The word 本子 means "notebook". So by analogy, it is deduced that the measure word for it, must be 本 just like 一本书 But in Chinese learning materials, I see this word coming with the measure ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
91 views

Using 二 before measure words instead of 两

We often read in grammar books, that before measure words one should not use 二. Instead, we should say 两 Hence, 二本书 would be incorrect. One should say 两本书. But I have come across two cases in genuine ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
285 views

Is 多少个人 incorrect?

I was studying Chinese grammar from a textbook. Somewhere in the book, it explains the difference between 几 and 多少. The book says that 几 needs a classifier. But using a classifier with 多少 is optional. ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
207 views

Can 道 be used as a measure word for 笑脸 like "一道笑脸“

I was listening to 曾经的那个人 by 梦然. You can check out the song here. https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%9B%BE%E7%BB%8F%E7%9A%84%E9%82%A3%E4%B8%AA%E4%BA%BA/21270421 Or here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/...
Microtribute's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
115 views

Flexibility of Chinese measure words

I know every classifier in Chinese has its own usage and place. For example 头(tou2) is for domesticated animals, and should not be used for a "refrigerator". What has become a question for ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
184 views

A proper measure word for dishes of multiple culinary categories

When I've learned about measure words 盘 (plate) and 碗 (bowl), I've started to wonder about an important aspect of their usage. There are some dishes that can be served both as either 第一道菜 (first ...
Rusurano's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
69 views

When to use classifier

Is this sentence grammatically correct? 我吃个苹果。 Or it should be either, 我吃苹果 Or, 我吃一个苹果 Is it correct to use classifiers without any number and demonstratives?
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
62 views

Finding appropriate classifier

"www.mdbg.net" mentions classifiers for almost all Chinese nouns. But there have been some cases where it doesn't suggest any classifiers. Examples are: 电阻器:resistor 电容器:capacitor 计算器:...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
0 votes
3 answers
94 views

Classifier after classifier

We know that the classifier for 瓶(píng):bottle is 个. 一个瓶:a bottle On the other hand, the word 瓶(píng):bottle itself, can be a classsifer for liquids like water. So if we want to say "a bottle of ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
111 views

Singular and Plural implied by classifier

I have always seen, when referring to plural nouns, the word 些 is used after demonstrative pronouns (这,那). For example, 这些书:these books. Does it mean that if we say 这本书, it can only have singular ...
Mohammad Talebi's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
170 views

Are there other examples of 一辆车 ("a car") vs. 车辆 ("vehicle") and 一匹马 ("a horse") vs. 马匹 ("horse")?

一辆车 (a car) vs. 车辆 (vehicle) 一匹马 (a horse) vs. 马匹 (horse) In these examples, we take 车 and 马 and append their measure words to form new words: 车辆 and 马匹, respectively. I'm wondering if there are ...
Becky 李蓓's user avatar
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3 votes
2 answers
91 views

Adjective before classifier

I was reading a short story on Du Chinese and came across this phrase 一大亩瓜田。 The app described 亩 as a classifier for fields. I haven't learned yet of the adjective coming before the classifier. Is ...
Misty's user avatar
  • 31
0 votes
1 answer
186 views

“几只苹果?” or "多少苹果?"

Tatoeba contains 2 sententes with the same translations: 几只苹果? 多少苹果? Is there difference between these sentences? What measure words can be used with 苹果?
Andrey Epifantsev's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
354 views

What are the HSK3.0 measure words as per the textbook 《汉语国际教育用词语声调组合及轻重音格式实用手册》?

Question: What are the HSK3.0 measure words? I went through the book 汉语国际教育用词语声调组合及轻重音格式实用手册 by 刘英林 [ed.] (considered the likely candidate for the upcoming HSK3.0 vocabulary) and inspected what was ...
Becky 李蓓's user avatar
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11 votes
5 answers
2k views

What's the difference between classifiers and measure words?

The terms classifier and measure word are often used interchangeably, with the latter being (reportedly) more common in language courses. They both translate to 量词 (literally "measure word") ...
blackgreen's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
139 views

Purpose of the reduplication in 一步一步地往上爬

(A)别着急,一步一步地往上爬,爬不动的时候就休息一会儿。 (B)我请田芳一句一句地给我纠正。 I learned about the reduplication of Measure words (e.g:个个,天天 ) but these sentences use a different structure. (1)What is the purpose of this ...
Jenny's user avatar
  • 821
1 vote
2 answers
109 views

Why is 条 the measure word being used in 那条街名是以一个将军的名字命名的

I know that the measure word for 街 is 条, but in this sentence the subject being identified is 街名, a word for "street name". My understanding is that a "name" has measure word 个: ...
Kassem's user avatar
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0 votes
2 answers
92 views

Expressing existence with 有: Are measure words compulsory?

I learn a new structure with 有. Place + 有 + Object I wonder if measure words are compulsory. I see everyone says: 我家有很多花。以前有一座桥。那个商店没有面包。 But nobody says: 我家有花。以前有桥。 So, are measure words ...
Jenny's user avatar
  • 821
4 votes
2 answers
303 views

Use of 成 / 乘 number quantifiers in Cantonese

I learned in Cantonese class that adding 成 to a Number can imply a degree of something. For example, 七成 means 70%. I explored further and it seems that it can be used to describe the rarity of your ...
udidosa's user avatar
  • 913
0 votes
1 answer
196 views

一张网页 or 一个网页 ("a webpage"): which is the better choice of measure word, and why?

I just want to say "a webpage", and the two natural options are 一个网页 一张网页 It's not hard to find examples of both: 访问一个网页的全过程[src] 我的第一张网页范例[src] It seems natural to use the measure ...
Becky 李蓓's user avatar
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2 votes
3 answers
559 views

Nouns that don't require a measure word

Some of the time nouns don't require measure words. 三年,四周,五天,六秒,七日 ... Are there any more nouns (time nouns or otherwise) that don't require a MW ? Is there a comprehensive list somewhere ?
Kantura's user avatar
  • 2,146
1 vote
1 answer
82 views

Using measure words for "one [thing]"

I came across this sentence: 一人说一句。 Yī rén shuō yī jù. Each person say one sentence. There are no measure words after either of the 一's. Is it a rule that you don't have to use measure words for ...
rorty's user avatar
  • 441
3 votes
2 answers
831 views

是个[adj + noun] vs 是[adj + noun]

A flashcard asked me to translate "Beijing is a big place". I proposed "北京是大地方“ and the answer was "北京是个大地方" (namely I omitted the 个). 1) Is my answer grammatically correct? I thought that, unlike ...
rorty's user avatar
  • 441
2 votes
6 answers
111 views

What measure word should I use when I have two nouns with different measure words?

If someone asks me: 你在动物园看了几(___)老虎和马呀? Choose the correct answer: a) 个 b) 只 c) 匹 d) other ______ e) all of the above f) none of the above g) screw Chinese, I'm going to study Klingon Thanx!
Enrico Brasil's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
329 views

What's the difference between 一份工作 and 一家工作?

I just encountered in the HSK4 book 一份工作 while I'm accustomed to 一家工作. Judging from Baidu (一份工作; 一家工作), both are grammatically correct and widely used. I am unsure if they're different or not. My ...
Becky 李蓓's user avatar
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4 votes
2 answers
243 views

What does 回 do in 这回事?

I have come across quite a few instance of 这回事(儿) instead of 这件事. Is there is a real difference between the two, or is it just a syntactical preference of the speaker?
Hashamyim's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
175 views

Is 身 commonly used as a measure word?

My Wenlin dictionary describes 身 as also a measure word for "suits of clothing". Is it commonly used by Chinese speakers?
seeeerge's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
175 views

Is it OK to use 子 as a measure word

my Wenlin dictionary describes 子 as also a measure word for bundles/hanks etc. Can anyone confirm this ? by sample sentence ?
seeeerge's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
91 views

Why is there repetition of the measure words in 一把把小扇子 and 一枚枚邮票? [duplicate]

This is from my 3-rd grade Chinese 语文 book (transcript is here): 秋天的雨,有一盒五彩缤纷的颜料。你看,它把黄色给了银杏树,黄黄的叶子像一把把小扇子,扇哪扇哪,扇走了夏天的炎热。它把红色给了枫树,红红的枫叶像一枚枚邮票,飘哇飘哇,邮来了秋天的凉爽。金黄色是给田野的,看,田野像金色的海洋。橙红色是给果树的,橘子、柿子你挤我碰,...
Becky 李蓓's user avatar
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3 votes
5 answers
679 views

What does 家 mean in 家医院?

I came across 家医院 in example sentences in an anki deck I downloaded. I know that 医院 means hospital. I tried to look up 家医院 in two dictionaries but could not find it. What is 家医院? Is it equivalent ...
user1622's user avatar
4 votes
2 answers
4k views

How does 一个, 一位,一名 change the meaning of a sentence?

I saw two versions of a sentence "He is a teacher": 他是老师。 VS 他是一个老师。 After googling I've become even more confused by versions: 他是一位老师。 AND 他是一名老师。 Are they actually different? What is the ...
Ivan Gerasimenko's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
523 views

Differences between 条 and 根

Both of these two words 条 and 根 in the dictionary are said to be measure words for long and thin objects. What are the differences between them?
user20590's user avatar
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1 vote
2 answers
279 views

How to say "this" in "This is my third time in Taiwan"?

Several times I've told people that I'm Taiwan for the third time and everybody understood me just fine, but I'm not sure I'm saying it right. 這個是我的三次在臺灣 I know 次 is the word for "time" in this ...
hippietrail's user avatar
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