Common Chinese Measure Words (量词)

Measure words (量词 liàngcí) are essential in Chinese. Unlike English, you can’t say “one apple” - you must say “one [measure word] apple”.

In Chinesisch sind Zaehleinheitswörter wichtig. Im Gegensatz zum Englischen kann man nicht “eins Apfel” sagen - man muss “ein [Zaehleinheitswort] Apfel” sagen.

个gè个gè个gè个gè (gè) - The Universal Measure Word

is the most common measure word and can be used for many things, especially when you forget the specific measure word!

• 一yī个gè人rén - one person (yī gè rén)
• 两liǎng个gè苹píng果guǒ - two apples (liǎng gè píngguǒ)
• 三sān个gè问wèn题tí - three questions (sān gè wèntí)

本běn本běn (běn) - For Books and Magazines

Use for bound reading materials:

• 一yī本běn书shū - one book (yī běn shū)
• 两liǎng本běn杂zá志zhì - two magazines (liǎng běn zázhì)
• 三sān本běn词cí典diǎn - three dictionaries (sān běn cídiǎn)

杯bēi杯bēi (bēi) - For Cups/Glasses

is used for beverages in cups or glasses:

• 一yī杯bēi咖kā啡fēi - one cup of coffee (yī bēi kāfēi)
• 两liǎng杯bēi水shuǐ - two glasses of water (liǎng bēi shuǐ)
• 三sān杯bēi茶chá - three cups of tea (sān bēi chá)

张zhāng张zhāng (zhāng) - For Flat Objects

Use for flat things like paper, tables, beds:

• 一yī张zhāng纸zhǐ - one sheet of paper (yī zhāng zhǐ)
• 两liǎng张zhāng桌zhuō子zǐ - two tables (liǎng zhāng zhuōzi)
• 三sān张zhāng照zhào片piàn - three photos (sān zhāng zhàopiàn)

条tiáo条tiáo (tiáo) - For Long, Narrow Objects

is for things that are long and thin:

• 一yī条tiáo河hé - one river (yī tiáo hé)
• 两liǎng条tiáo裤kù子zǐ - two pairs of pants (liǎng tiáo kùzi)
• 三sān条tiáo鱼yú - three fish (sān tiáo yú)

Practice Tip / Übungstipp

Start by mastering - it works for about 60% of situations! Then gradually learn specific measure words as you encounter new vocabulary.

Beginnen Sie damit zu meistern - es funktioniert in etwa 60% der Situationen! Dann lernen Sie nach und nach spezifische Zaehleinheitswörter, wenn Sie auf neues Vokabular stoßen.