Nouns míngcí 名词 name people, places, things, and ideas. This guide covers how nouns work in Mandarin through examples you can use right away.
Nouns
Nouns are words for things you can see, touch, think about, or talk about. They can be concrete like shū (书) "book" or abstract like ài (爱) "love".
Common Nouns
Common nouns name everyday things, people, or places you learn first. They show you typical noun patterns in Mandarin.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 学校 | xuéxiào | school | |
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | |
| 水 | shuǐ | water | |
| 朋友 | péngyǒu | friend |
She is my teacher.
Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns name ideas, qualities, or feelings rather than physical things. They often appear in discussions about emotions, values, or concepts.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 爱 | ài | love | |
| 时间 | shíjiān | time | |
| 快乐 | kuàilè | happiness | |
| 自由 | zìyóu | freedom |
Measure Words
Measure words liàngcí 量词 go between numbers and nouns to show type or quantity. You need the right measure word for each kind of noun.
Common Measure Words
The measure word gè (个) is general and used with many nouns, while others like běn (本) for books are more specific. Practice pairing them naturally.
Plurals
Mandarin usually does not change nouns to show plural. Adding men (们) makes plurals when talking about groups of people or animals. Context often tells you if something is singular or plural.
Using 们 for Plural
Use men (们) after nouns that refer to people to emphasize a group. It does not normally appear after things or abstract nouns.
| Hanzi | Pinyin | English | Plural Form | Sentence | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 老师 | lǎoshī | teacher | 老师们 | 老师们在教室。 | |
| 学生 | xuéshēng | student | 学生们 | 学生们很高兴。 | |
| 朋友 | péngyǒu | friend | 朋友们 | 朋友们来了。 | |
| 医生 | yīshēng | doctor | 医生们 | 医生们很忙。 |
Possession
Use de (的) to show possession or association. The noun or pronoun before de (的) is the owner or related thing, and the noun after is what is owned.
Possessive 的
Attach de (的) between the possessor and the thing possessed to make relationships clear. This works for people, places, and things.
| Possessor | 的 | Possessed | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 我 | 的 | 书 | my book | |
| 她 | 的 | 朋友 | her friend | |
| 学校 | 的 | 老师 | school teacher | |
| 他 | 的 | 水杯 | his water cup |
Summary
Nouns míngcí 名词 name people, places, things, and ideas. Use measure words liàngcí 量词 with numbers, add men (们) for some plurals, and use de (的) to show possession. Practice these patterns with everyday vocabulary.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025