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  <h1>Measure word "<span class="pinyinst">gè</span>"</h1>

  <p><span class="hanzi">个</span> (<span class="pinyin">gè</span>) 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, <span class="hanzi">个</span> (<span class="pinyin">gè</span>) <i>is</i> the only correct measure word.</p>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_44">Contents</h2>

  <div class="contents">
    <ul>
      <li><a href="#General_Structure"> 1 General Structure</a> 

      <ul>
        <li><a href="#Structure"> 1.1 Structure</a></li>

        <li><a href="#Examples"> 1.2 Examples</a></li>
      </ul></li>

      <li><a href="#Omitting_the_number"> 2 Omitting the number</a> 

      <ul>
        <li><a href="#Structure_2"> 2.1 Structure</a></li>

        <li><a href="#Examples_2"> 2.2 Examples</a></li>
      </ul></li>

      <li><a href="#See_also"> 3 See also</a></li>

      <li><a href="2#Sources_and_further_reading"> 4 Sources and further reading</a> 

      <ul>
        <li><a href="h#Books"> 4.1 Books</a></li>

        <li><a href="#Websites"> 4.2 Websites</a></li>
      </ul></li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_45">General Structure</h2>

  <h3 id="Structure">Structure</h3>

  <p>The general structure for <span class="hanzi">个</span> (<span class="pinyin">gè</span>) and measure words in general is:</p>

  <div class="deux">
    Number + <span class="hanzist">个</span> + Noun
  </div>

  <p>Any time you want to state <i><b>how many</b></i> of a noun in Chinese, you probably need a measure word. First get used to expressing it with <span class="hanzi">个</span> (<span class="pinyin">gè</span>).</p>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_46">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">一 个 人</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">yī gè rén</span> <br/>one person</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">四 个 朋友</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">sì gè péngyou</span> <br/>four friends</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">三 个 苹果 手机</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">sān gè Píngguǒ shǒujī</span> <br/>three iPhones</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">五 个 星期</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">wǔ gè xīngqī</span> <br/>five weeks</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">六 个 月</span> <br/><span class="pinyin">liù gè yuè </span> <br/>six months</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">两 个 老婆</span> If you're wondering why it's <span class="hanzi">两</span> and not <span class="hanzi">二</span>，see our article on "<span class="pinyin">èr</span>" and "<span class="pinyin">liǎng</span>"&#160;<br/><span class="pinyin">liǎng gè lǎopo</span>&#160;<br/>two wives</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">十 个 男人， 七 个 傻， 八 个 坏。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">shí gè nánrén, qī gè shǎ, bā gè huài.</span> <br/>Ten men: seven are fools, and eight are bad.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="Omitting_the_number">Omitting the number</h2>

  <h3 id="Structure_2">Structure</h3>

  <div class="deux">
    Verb + <span class="hanzist">个</span> + Noun
  </div>

  <p>If the number is <b>one</b> (<b>1</b>), you can omit it and use <span class="hanzi">个</span> (<span class="pinyin">gè</span>) by itself. This is equivalent to <i>a</i> or <i>an</i> in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot." (The tone on <span class="hanzi">个</span> (<span class="pinyin">gè</span>) is normally neutral for this usage, but you don't need to stress about it.)</p>

  <h3 id="Examples_2">Examples</h3>

  <div class="exemple">
    <ul>
      <li><span class="hanzi">他 是 个 老外。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā shì ge lǎowài.</span><br/> He is a foreigner.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">我 有 个 儿子。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Wǒ yǒu ge érzi.</span> <br/>I have a son.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">她 是 个 好 老师。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Tā shì ge hǎo lǎoshī.</span> <br/>She is a good teacher.</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">你 想 吃 个 包子 吗？</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Nǐ xiǎng chī ge bāozi ma?</span> <br/>Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun?</li>

      <li><span class="hanzi">老师 ， 我 有 个 问题。</span><br/><span class="pinyin">Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu ge wènti.</span> <br/>Teacher, I have a question.</li>
    </ul>
  </div>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_47">See also</h2>

  <ul>
    <li>Counting money</li>

    <li>Measure words in quantity questions</li>

    <li>Measure words for counting</li>

    <li>Measure words to differentiate</li>
  </ul>

  <h2 id="sigil_toc_id_48">Sources and further reading</h2>

  <h3 id="sigil_toc_id_49">Books</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (pp. 21-2)</li>

    <li>Integrated Chinese: Level 1, Part 1 (3rd ed) (pp. 45-6)</li>

    <li>Chinese: An Essential Grammar, Second Edition (p. 21)</li>
  </ul>

  <h3 id="Websites">Websites</h3>

  <ul>
    <li>Chinese classifier (Wikipedia)</li>
  </ul>
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