When do I use 颗 vs 粒?

Use 颗 for small, round objects that are not grain-like: stars, teeth, pearls, beads, hearts. Use 粒 for tiny, granular items: rice, sand, salt, pills, seeds. If the item is very small and resembles a grain, lean towards 粒; if it is a distinct solid object that you would point to individually, use 颗.

Can I use 颗 for grains of rice?

No, 颗 is not used for rice. Mandarin speakers exclusively use 粒 for rice grains. Using 颗 would sound very unnatural and incorrect.

What about pills? Can I use 颗 for pills?

Yes, 颗 is sometimes used for larger pills (e.g., vitamin tablets), but 粒 is the more common and neutral choice for pills, especially for smaller ones. Both are acceptable, but 粒 is safer.

Is 一颗珠子 correct?

Yes, 颗 is the standard classifier for beads. While 粒 might be understood, it is not idiomatic. Always use 颗 for beads unless you are intentionally emphasizing their grain-like tiny size.

Easily confusedHSK 5

颗 vs 粒 (kē vs lì): classifiers for small round objects

Both 颗 (kē) and 粒 (lì) are classifiers for small round objects, but 粒 is reserved for grains and granule-sized items such as rice, sand, and pills, while 颗 covers a broader range of small, round, often solid objects like stars, beads, pearls, and teeth. Choosing the right one depends on whether the object is granular (粒) or a distinct, slightly larger round unit (颗).

颗 (kē) and 粒 (lì) are measure words for small, round objects. The key distinction is granularity: 粒 is used exclusively for tiny, grain-like items that often come in piles or are measured by the granule, such as rice, sand, and pills. 颗 is for slightly larger, discrete round objects that are not inherently granular, such as stars, hearts, teeth, beads, and pearls. While there is some overlap for items like seeds and pills, the choice is guided by typical usage in context.

When to use each

颗kē

classifier for small round objects (beads, stars, teeth, etc.)

Use 颗 for small, often solid round objects that are discrete and not grain-like: stars (星星), hearts (心), teeth (牙齿), pearls (珍珠), beads (珠子), and certain fruits like grapes (葡萄) when considering the whole fruit. It is also used for abstract round concepts such as 一颗心 (a heart). 颗 tends to indicate objects that are visible as individual units, not part of a granular mass.

粒lì

classifier for grains, granules, and pills

Use 粒 for tiny, grain-like items: grains of rice (米), sand (沙), salt (盐), seeds (种子), beans (豆子), and pills (药丸). It emphasizes the granular, countable nature and often implies many similar items. While 粒 can technically be used for beads or seeds, it sounds more natural for items that are typically found in bulk or are very small, like a grain of sand.

For beads (珠子), 颗 is standard, but 粒 may be heard in casual speech; for pills, both 颗 and 粒 are used (颗 for larger pills, 粒 for smaller ones), but 粒 is more common for standard pills.

At a glance

	颗	粒
Typical objects	Stars, hearts, teeth, pearls, beads, heads	Rice, sand, salt, pills, seeds, beans
Size emphasis	Slightly larger, distinct round units	Tiny, often accumulate into mass
Granularity	Non-granular, each object stands alone	Granular, many identical units
Colloquial use for pills	Occasional for larger pills	Default for standard pills

Examples

颗
她戴着一颗珍珠。
Tā dài zhe yì kē zhēn zhū.
She is wearing a pearl.
Correct use of 颗 with a pearl; avoid using 颗 for the earring itself.
粒
桌上有一粒米。
Zhuō shàng yǒu yí lì mǐ.
There is a grain of rice on the table.
粒 is the only correct classifier for a single grain of rice.
颗
天空中有一颗星星。
Tiān kōng zhōng yǒu yì kē xīng xing.
There is a star in the sky.
颗 is standard for stars.
粒
他吃了一粒药丸。
Tā chī le yí lì yào wán.
He took a pill.
粒 is common for pills, but 颗 is also possible for larger pills.
颗
她掉了一颗牙。
Tā diào le yì kē yá.
She lost a tooth.
颗 is the standard classifier for teeth.
粒
海滩上有一粒沙。
Hǎi tān shàng yǒu yí lì shā.
There is a grain of sand on the beach.
粒 is correct for sand; never 颗.

Common mistakes

Using 颗 for rice: '一颗米' is incorrect; always use 粒 for rice grains.
Using 粒 for stars: '一粒星星' is unnatural; use 颗.
Using 颗 for sand: '一颗沙' is incorrect; use 粒.
Confusing beads: while 一粒珠子 is possible, 一颗珠子 is far more common and natural.
Misusing 颗 for earrings: say '一只耳环' or '一对耳环', not '一颗耳环'.

FAQ

When do I use 颗 vs 粒?: Use 颗 for small, round objects that are not grain-like: stars, teeth, pearls, beads, hearts. Use 粒 for tiny, granular items: rice, sand, salt, pills, seeds. If the item is very small and resembles a grain, lean towards 粒; if it is a distinct solid object that you would point to individually, use 颗.
Can I use 颗 for grains of rice?: No, 颗 is not used for rice. Mandarin speakers exclusively use 粒 for rice grains. Using 颗 would sound very unnatural and incorrect.
What about pills? Can I use 颗 for pills?: Yes, 颗 is sometimes used for larger pills (e.g., vitamin tablets), but 粒 is the more common and neutral choice for pills, especially for smaller ones. Both are acceptable, but 粒 is safer.
Is 一颗珠子 correct?: Yes, 颗 is the standard classifier for beads. While 粒 might be understood, it is not idiomatic. Always use 颗 for beads unless you are intentionally emphasizing their grain-like tiny size.