Definition
颗 (kē) is a classifier for small roundish objects — natural or manufactured — like pearls, teeth, stars, and satellites. It is more general than 粒 (lì), which is used for tiny granular items like grains or pills. Compared to 枚 (méi), which is more formal and often for manufactured flat/round objects (coins, rings) or larger items (rockets), 颗 is the everyday choice for natural round things.
classifier
for small roundish objects such as pearlsgrainsteethheartsstarssatellites
Easily confused
- 棵kēlook-alike(classifier) for trees, cabbages, plants, and other growing vegetation
- 可kěsound-alike(adverb) used for emphasis: really, certainly, very
- 课kèlook-alikeclass; lesson; subject; course
- 克kèsound-alike(classifier) gram (unit of weight)
- 裸luǒlook-alike(verb) to be naked; to be bare
- 科kēsound-alike(noun) subject, discipline, field of study
- 裹guǒlook-aliketo wrap (up); to bundle
- 刻kèsound-alike(classifier) quarter (of an hour); a short moment
- 渴kěsound-alikethirsty
- 磕kēsound-aliketo knock, to tap (against sth hard)
Examples
- 颗。Tā sòng gěi wǒ yì kē zhēnzhū.He gave me a pearl.
- 颗。Wǒ de yì kē yá téng le.One of my teeth hurts.
- 颗。Tiān shàng yǒu yì kē xīngxing.There is a star in the sky.
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