Verb phrasesHSK 4
Measure words for verbs
To count how many times an action occurs, place a measure word after the verb, followed by a number and the measure word. The most general verbal measure word is 次 (cì) for 'times', but some verbs pair specifically with 遍 (biàn) for completed actions or 下 (xià) for short, quick actions.
Structure
Verb + Number + Measure Word
Examples
- 这个电影我看过两遍。Zhège diànyǐng wǒ kàn guo liǎng biàn .I've seen this movie twice.
- 我们去过两次。Wǒme qù guo liǎng cì .We've been there twice.
- 这个问题我们讨论过几次。Zhège wèntí wǒmen tǎolùn guo jǐ cì .We've discussed this issue a few times.
- 那个红头发的男孩打了我三下。Nàge hóng tóufa de nánhái dǎ le wǒ sān xià .That red-haired boy hit me three times.
- 他轻轻地拍了我两下。Tā qīngqīng de pāi le wǒ liǎng xià .He very lightly pat me a few times.
Words that use this
- 次cìnext in sequence; second; the second (day, time etc); secondary; vice-; sub-; infra-; inferior quality; substandard; order; sequence; hypo- (chemistry); classifier for enumerated events: time
- 遍biàneverywhere; all over; classifier for actions: one time
- 下xiàdown; downwards; below; lower; later; next (week etc); second (of two parts); to decline; to go down; to arrive at (a decision, conclusion etc); measure word to show the frequency of an action