Noun Basics
Nouns, or míngcí 名词, name people, places, things, and ideas. This guide covers how nouns work, common categories, and key patterns to help you recognize and use them effectively.
What Is a Noun
A noun, or míngcí 名词, is a word that names a person, place, thing, or idea. Nouns can function as subjects, objects, or be modified by other words.
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Common Categories
Common noun categories include people (rén 人), places (dìfang 地方), things (dōngxi 东西), animals (dòngwù 动物), and abstract ideas (gàiniàn 概念).
| Hanzi Phrase | Pinyin Phrase | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐉 龙是天空的王。 | Lóng shì tiānkōng de wáng. | The dragon is the king of the sky. | Mythical creature as noun. |
| 🏯 城里有高高的城墙。 | Chéng lǐ yǒu gāo gāo de chéngqiáng. | The city has tall walls. | City and wall as nouns. |
| 🌾 田野里金黄一片。 | Tiányě lǐ jīn huáng yī piàn. | The fields are a golden sea. | Field as noun. |
| 🚢 海上帆船风驰电掣。 | Hǎishàng fānchuán fēngchí diànchè. | The sailing ship races across the sea. | Ship as noun. |
| 🎎 市集上人声鼎沸。 | Shìjí shàng rén shēng dǐngfèi. | The market is bustling with voices. | People at market as noun. |
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Measure Words
Measure words, or jìliàngcí 计量词, are required when counting nouns or specifying amounts. Each noun category typically pairs with a particular measure word like gè 个 or zhī 支.
| Hanzi Phrase | Pinyin Phrase | English Translation | Measure Word | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🐉 一条龙盘踞山巅。 | Yī tiáo lóng pánjù shāndiān. | A dragon coils on the mountain peak. | 条 (tiáo) | For long creatures. |
| 🏯 一座城墙环绕四方。 | Yī zuò chéngqiáng huánrào sìfāng. | A city wall surrounds all sides. | 座 (zuò) | For large structures. |
| 🌾 一片田野波光粼粼。 | Yī piàn tiányě bōguāng línlín. | A field shimmers with light. | 片 (piàn) | For flat areas. |
| 🚢 一艘帆船掠过海面。 | Yī sōu fānchuán lüèguò hǎimiàn. | A sailing ship flies over the sea. | 艘 (sōu) | For ships. |
| 🎎 一群人潮涌动如海。 | Yī qún rén cháo yǒngdòng rú hǎi. | A crowd of people surges like a sea. | 群 (qún) | For groups. |
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Plurality
Mandarin nouns do not change form for plural. The particle men 们 can mark plurals for pronouns and some nouns referring to people, but is not used universally.
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Possession
Possession is shown by adding de 的 after the possessor. The structure is typically possessor + de 的 + noun, as in wǒ de shū 我的书 (my book).
| Hanzi Phrase | Pinyin Phrase | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐉 龙的鳞片闪耀着光芒。 | Lóng de línpian shǎnyào zhe guāngmáng. | The dragon's scales shine brightly. | Possession with 的. |
| 🏯 城墙的影子落在河中。 | Chéngqiáng de yǐngzi luò zài hé zhōng. | The city wall's shadow falls into the river. | Possessive modifier. |
| 🌾 田野里的风吹起了麦浪。 | Tiányě lǐ de fēng chuī qǐ le màilàng. | The wind in the field raised waves of wheat. | Locative possession. |
| 🚢 帆船的帆迎风鼓起。 | Fānchuán de fān yíng fēng gǔ qǐ. | The ship's sail billowed in the wind. | Part-whole relation. |
| 🎎 人们的欢笑洒满了街道。 | Rénmen de huānxiào sǎ mǎn le jiēdào. | The people's laughter filled the street. | Collective possession. |
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Summary
Nouns, or míngcí 名词, name people, places, things, and ideas. Learn common categories, use measure words when counting, and mark possession with de 的 to describe relationships.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025