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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) →buy
- Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 45-6) →buy
- Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 21) →buy
Websites
- Chinese classifier (Wikipedia)