Measure Word Usage

In Mandarin, you generally place a measure word between the numeral (or word like yī 一 “one” or jǐ 几 “several”) and the noun, so you say “number + measure word + noun”. Measure words agree with the kind of item being counted, whether is a person, an object, or an abstract thing.

Some measure words are very general and can be used with many nouns, while others are specific to certain categories like animals, flat objects, or containers. Learning a few common measure words will allow you to count typical items smoothly.

Gè 个 is the most general and widely used measure word, and it can be used for people and many things when you don’t know or don’t want to use a more specific classifier. It’s a safe default.

Běn 本 is used for books, magazines, and similar bound volumes. Use it when counting reading materials or anything that resembles a small stack of pages.

Zhāng 张 is for flat, thin objects like paper, tickets, tables, or photos. Use it whenever the item has a flat surface that can be “spread out”.

Tiáo 条 is for long, narrow, or flexible things such as fish, rivers, roads, scarves, or pants. It often applies to items that can bend or have length more than width.

Zhī 只 is used for many animals, one of a pair, and some small objects. It commonly appears when counting birds, cats, dogs, or single slippers.

Certain measure words apply to containers or servings, like bottles, cups, or bowls. These classifiers often reflect how the item is held or served.

Fèn 份 is for portions, servings, or copies, used when dividing something into shareable parts or when referring to an ordered dish or printed material.

Measure words are small but essential particles that signal how things are counted and categorized in Mandarin. Start by mastering 一 个 书 张 条 只 and similar common classifiers, and pay attention to the noun’s shape or function to choose the right measure word.