{{Grammar Box}} 个 (gè) is the most commonly used [[measure word]]. 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:
Number + 个 + Noun
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 ===
* 一 个 人 yī gè rénone person * 四 个 朋友 sì gè péngyoufour friends * 三 个 苹果 手机 sān gè Píngguǒ shǒujīthree iPhones * 五 个 星期 wǔ gè xīngqīfive weeks * 六 个 月 liù gè yuè six months * 两 个 老婆liǎng gè lǎopo two wives * 十 个 男人， 七 个 傻， 八 个 坏。A line from a songShí gè nánrén, qī gè shǎ, bā gè huài.Ten men: seven are fools, and eight are bad.
== Omitting the Number == === Structure ===
Verb + 个 + Noun
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 ===
* 他 是 个 老外。Tā shì gè lǎowài.He is a foreigner. * 我 有 个 儿子。Wǒ yǒu gè érzi.I have a son. * 她 是 个 好 老师。Tā shì gè hǎo lǎoshī.She is a good teacher. * 你 想 吃 个 包子 吗？Nǐ xiǎng chī gè bāozi ma?Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun? * 老师 ， 我 有 个 问题。Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu gè wèntí.Teacher, I have a question.
==See also== * [[Counting money]] * [[Measure words in quantity questions]] * [[Measure words for counting]] * [[Measure words to differentiate]] == Sources and further reading == === Books === * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (pp. 21-2) [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 →buy] * [[Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed)]] (pp. 45-6) [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 →buy] * [[Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition]] (p. 21) [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 →buy] === Websites === * [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_classifier Chinese classifier] (Wikipedia) [[Category:A1 grammar points]] {{Basic Grammar|个|A1|Number + 个 + Noun|一 个 人 。|grammar point|ASGI0T9S}} {{Similar|Measure words in quantity questions}} {{Similar|Measure words for counting}} {{Similar|Measure words to differentiate}} {{Similar|Age with "sui"}} {{Similar|Ordinal numbers with "di"}} {{Rel char|个}} {{POS|Numbers}} {{Used for| Expressing quantity}}