What is the correct measure word for 问题 (question)?

Question

I'm not sure if I should say 一件问题 or 一项问题. I know I can get away with 一个问题, but I'd like to know the "correct" measure word.

Note: I would like to use the tag measure-word, but I can't. I used "writing" instead, because using the right measure word (instead of 个) seems to only matter in writing.

Answer 1

These are the standard measure words for 问题:

• Normally you would use 个.
• If there is a stream of questions you can use 串, for example 一大串问题.
• If there are a couple of questions, you can use 些
• If you are talking about kinds of questions, you have to use 类, for example 这类问题 (this kind of problem)

件 is used, but not very often, even in writing. 项 is not a standard measure word for 问题, but it can be used when talking about problems (for example software problems), not when talking about questions.

Answer 2

The correct measure word or (量词) for 问题 is 个 as in 一个问题. There is no explanation for this, and the knowledge is only acquired through practice.

• 项 is a measure word for 工程
• 件 is a measure word for 事情

Other measure words include:

• 一尊佛像 (a statue, unit word describes a statue)
• 一顶帽子 (a hat)
• 一只猫 (a cat)
• 一打鸡蛋 (a dozen of eggs)
• 一条蛇 (a snake)
• 一串葡萄 (a bunch of grapes)

For more examples, please refer to Wikipedia or Baidu article on the topic of 量词.

Answer 3

The correct measure word for 问题 is 道。