个 (gè) is the most commonly used [measure
word](measure_word "wikilink"). It can be used in a pinch for any noun
if you can't think of a more precise measure word. (Although you might
not sound quite as smart, you'll still get your point across). Also, for
many nouns, 个 (gè) *is* the only correct measure word.

Counting Nouns
--------------

### Structure

The general structure for 个 (gè) and measure words in general is:

<div class="jiegou">
Number + 个 + Noun

</div>
Any time you want to state *how many* of a noun in Chinese, you probably
need a measure word. First get used to how they are used with 个 (gè).

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   一 <em>个</em> 人 <span class="pinyin">yī <em>gè</em>
    rén</span><span class="trans">one person</span>
-   四 <em>个</em> 朋友 <span class="pinyin">sì <em>gè</em>
    péngyou</span><span class="trans">four friends</span>
-   三 <em>个</em> 苹果 手机 <span class="pinyin">sān <em>gè</em>
    Píngguǒ shǒujī</span><span class="trans">three iPhones</span>
-   五 <em>个</em> 星期 <span class="pinyin">wǔ <em>gè</em>
    xīngqī</span><span class="trans">five weeks</span>
-   六 <em>个</em> 月 <span class="pinyin">liù <em>gè</em> yuè
    </span><span class="trans">six months</span>
-   两 <em>个</em> 老婆<span class="pinyin">liǎng <em>gè</em> lǎopo
    </span><span class="trans">two wives</span>
-   十 <em>个</em> 男人， 七 <em>个</em> 傻， 八 <em>个</em>
    坏。<span class="expl pdf-simple-expl">A line from a
    song</span><span class="pinyin">Shí <em>gè</em> nánrén, qī
    <em>gè</em> shǎ, bā <em>gè</em> huài.</span><span class="trans">Ten
    men: seven are fools, and eight are bad.</span>

</div>
Omitting the Number
-------------------

### Structure

<div class="jiegou">
Verb + 个 + Noun

</div>
If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 (gè) by itself.
This is similar to "a" or "an" in English, for example in "a person" or
"an idiot." (The tone on 个 (gè) is normally somewhat de-emphasized in
this usage, but still written as fourth tone. You don't need to stress
about it, though.)

### Examples

<div class="liju">
-   他 是 <em>个</em> 老外。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè</em>
    lǎowài.</span><span class="trans">He is a foreigner.</span>
-   我 有 <em>个</em> 儿子。<span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒu <em>gè</em>
    érzi.</span><span class="trans">I have a son.</span>
-   她 是 <em>个</em> 好 老师。<span class="pinyin">Tā shì <em>gè</em>
    hǎo lǎoshī.</span><span class="trans">She is a good teacher.</span>
-   你 想 吃 <em>个</em> 包子 吗？<span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng chī
    <em>gè</em> bāozi ma?</span><span class="trans">Would you like to
    eat a stuffed steamed bun?</span>
-   老师 ， 我 有 <em>个</em> 问题。<span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu
    <em>gè</em> wèntí.</span><span class="trans">Teacher, I have a
    question.</span>

</div>
See also
--------

-   [Counting money](Counting_money "wikilink")
-   [Measure words in quantity
    questions](Measure_words_in_quantity_questions "wikilink")
-   [Measure words for counting](Measure_words_for_counting "wikilink")
-   [Measure words to
    differentiate](Measure_words_to_differentiate "wikilink")

Sources and further reading
---------------------------

### Books

-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (pp.
    21-2)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)
-   [Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1
    (3rd ed)](Integrated_Chinese:_Level_1,_Part_1_(3rd_ed) "wikilink") (pp.
    45-6)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0887276385/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0887276385)
-   [Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second
    Edition](Chinese:_An_Essential_Grammar,_Second_Edition "wikilink") (p.
    21)
    [→buy](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0415372615/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=allset-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399369&creativeASIN=0415372615)

### Websites

-   [Chinese
    classifier](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_classifier) (Wikipedia)

[Category:A1 grammar points](Category:A1_grammar_points "wikilink")