Numbers and Measure WordsHSK 3

Measure words for counting

Whenever you count something in Chinese, you need to place a measure word between the number and the noun. The most common pitfall is omitting the measure word entirely or using the generic 个 when a specific measure word is expected.

Structure

Number + Measure Word + Noun

Examples

  • yī gè rén
    a person
  • liǎng zhī māo
    two cats
  • sān tiáo yú
    three fish
  • 牛奶
    sì bēi niúnǎi
    four glasses of milk
  • 电脑
    bā tái diànnǎo
    eight computers