10 Common Chinese Measure Words
辆 = liàng ▶ a measure word for vehicles Examples: 一辆汽车 = yí liàng qì chē = a car 三辆自行车 = sān liàng zì xíng chē = three bikes
张 = zhāng ▶ a measure word most commonly used for objects with flat surface. ▶ It is be used with objects that can be opened or closed. Examples: 一张嘴 = yì zhāng zuǐ = a mouth 一张弓 = yì zhāng gōng = a bow (weapon) 一张纸 = yì zhāng zhǐ = a piece of paper 四张桌子 = sì zhāng zhuō zi = four tables 一张床 = yì zhāng chuáng = a bed ▶ it is also used for human face 一张脸 = yì zhāng liǎn = a face
双 = shuāng ▶ a measure word for shoes and paired times Examples: 一双鞋子 = yì shuāng xié zi = a pair of shoes 双手 = shuāng shǒu = both hands 双生 = shuāng shēng = twins 双亲 = shuāng qīn = (both) parents ， father and mother
方 = fāng ▶ measure word for square things Example: 一方手帕 = yì fāng shǒu pà = a handkerchief
头 = tóu ▶ measure word for large animals (like pig, cow, elephant, sheep etc) ▶ measure word for garlic or onion Examples: 一头猪 = yì tóu zhū = a pig 三头牛 = sān tóu niú = three cows 一头蒜 = yì tóu suàn = a garlic
只 = zhī ▶ measure word for birds and some animals ▶ for one of certain paired things ▶ for certain containers or small boats Examples: 一只猫 = yì zhī māo = a cat 一只鹰 = yì zhī yīng = an eagle 一只手 = yì zhī shǒu = one hand 一只脚 = yì zhī jiǎo = a foot 两只船 = liǎng zhī chuán = two boats
本 = běn ▶ measure word for book or notebooks Example 四本书 = sì běn shū = four books
个 = gè = ▶ measure word for general use. Examples: 两个星期 = liǎng gè xīng qī = two weeks 一个人 = yī gè rén = a person 两个孩子 = liǎng gè hái zi = two kids
位 = wèi ▶ a polite measure word for people Examples: 一位老师 = yí wèi lǎo shī = a teacher 两位歌手 = liǎng wèi gē shǒu = two singers
名 = míng ▶ a measure word for person or standing in a competition Examples: 一名学生 = yì míng xué sheng = a student 两名运动员 = liǎng míng yùn dòng yuán = two athelets
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