Chinese Measure Words

The Chinese language uses many different measure words to count nouns. Learning Chinese measure words is one of the most important parts of learning Chinese. There are more than one hundred measure words in Mandarin used to describe nouns and the only way to learn them all is by using them. Let's get started by getting acquainted with some of the most common ones.

běn 本 measure word for books, magazines
How many books do you have?
你有几本书？

zhāng 张 measure word for paper, CDs,
I have 3 CDs.
我有3张CD。

fèn 份 measure word for documents, presents
Please copy this document.
请复印下这份文件。

wèi 位 measure word for people
There are two guests upstairs.
楼上有两位客人。

zhī 只 measure word for animals
There is a bird in the tree.
树上有一只鸟。

shuāng 双 measure word for pairs (e.g. chopsticks, shoes, eyes, etc.)
This pair of shoes is so nice.
这双鞋这漂亮

liàng 辆 measure word for cars
I have a car.
我有一辆车。

shǒu 首 measure word for songs
下面谁唱歌？
Who will sing next？

tiáo 条 measure word for roads
Where does this road go?
这条路通向哪里？

bù 部 measure word for movies, telephones, novels
I lost a mobile phone.
我丢了一部手机。

chù 处 measure word for houses
How many post offices on this block?
这个街区有几家邮局？

cì 次 measure word for times
I listened to this song again
我又听了一次这首歌。

jiàn 件 measure word for clothes
How much are you wearing?
你穿了几件衣服?

jú 局 measure word for games
我玩过这个游戏两次.。
I've played this game twice.

kuài 块 measure word for pieces
I eat a piece of cake.
我吃了一块蛋糕。

miàn 面 measure word for flags
That flag waves in the wind
那面旗帜在风中飘扬。

pán 盘 measure word for dishes of food
我吃了一盘沙拉.
I eat a plate of salad.

píng 瓶 measure word for bottles
Give me a bottle of wine.
给我一瓶酒。

yè 页 measure word for pages
This book has 100 pages.
这本书有100页。

zuò 座 measure word for large things (e.g. islands, hospitals, etc.)
How may hospitals does this city have?
这座城市有几家医院。

duǒ 朵 measure word for flowers
Give her a flower.
送她一朵花。

fèn 封 measure word for letters
He sent me an email.
他给我发了一封电子邮件。

bǎ 把 measure word for chairs
There are 3 chairs in this house.
屋子里有3把椅子。

dī 滴 measure word for water and milk
Don`t waste a drop of water.
不要浪费一滴水。

fú 幅 measure word for maps and pictures
There is a map on the wall.
墙上有一幅地图。

jié 节 measure word for a section
Please give me a battery.
请给我一节电池。

lì 粒 measure word for small round thing
I can’t even eat one peanut
我甚至不能吃一粒花生

pǐ 匹 measure word for horses and other livestock
A horse came over
一匹马过来了

To apply for your Chinese course, please complete the online registration

Toll free in China: 400 633 5538

International: +86 21 61371987

For any inquiries, please contact info@mandarinhouse.com