Some Chinese Measure Words

mw Pinyin Usages Examples Remarks
把 bǎ
  1. Individual measure for things with a handle.
  2. Bunch
  3. Handful
 lock 一把锁 key 一把钥匙 fan 一把扇子 knife 两把刀 spoon 一把勺 ruler 一把尺 violin 一把小提琴 brush 一把刷子 scissors 一把剪子 bunch of flowers 一把花 handful of peanuts 一把花生
班 bān
  1. Class: group of people.
  2. A run, flight, etc for workers in shifts or scheduled services
 a class of youngsters 一班年轻人 next flight 下班飞机 last train 末班火车 three shifts 三班倒
包 bāo Bundle; bale; parcel: container measure for things wrapped or fixed in bundles rice 一包米 cigarettes 一包烟 sugar 一包糖 candies 两包糖果 cookies 一包饼干
杯 bēi Cup, glass water 一杯水 tea 一杯茶 alcohol 一杯酒 milk 一杯奶
本 běn Volume: book book 一本书 magazine 一本杂志 novel 一本小说 dictionary, textbook 一本字典 pictorial 一本画报
笔 bǐ
  1. Pen: individual measure for handwriting or painting.
  2. Item; unit: partitive measure for a sum of money or a transaction
 handwriting 一笔好字 income 一笔收入 deal 一笔买卖 business 一笔生意 some of money 一笔钱 debt 一笔债 expense 一笔花费 property 一笔财产
遍 biàn Once over; once through: measure for the course of an action from the beginning to the end ask 问一遍 think 想一遍 listen 听一遍 write 写一遍 review 复习一遍 preview 预习一遍
部 bù
  1. Set: individual measure for films, set of books or volume of works
  2. Individual measure for vehicles, machines, telephones
 novel 一部小说 dictionary 一部词典 car 一部汽车 machine 一部机器
册 cè Volume: individual measure for books especially one of a set of books, periodicals account book 一册账簿 stamp album 一册集邮簿
层 céng
  1. Storey; floor: partitive measure for the storeys of a building
  2. Layer: for an outer covering
 stories(in a building)一层楼 glass 一层玻璃 ice 一层冰 skin一层皮 oil 一层油 dust 一层灰 dirt 一层土 paint 一层漆
场 cháng
  1. Individual measure for the process or course of occurring
  2. Measure for the course of certain actions
 snowfall 一场雪 dispute 一场争论 rainfall 一场雨 flood 一场大水 misunderstanding 一场误会 fire 一场大火 catastrophe 一场灾难 cry 哭了一场
场 chǎng Individual measure for recreational or physical activities film 一场电影 opera 一场话剧 game 一场比赛
串 chuàn String: group measure for a number of things of the same kind growing or attached together pearls 一串珠子 sugarcoated haws 一串糖葫芦 grilled mutton 一串烤羊肉 grapes 一串葡萄
床 chuáng Individual measure for quilt, sheet quilt 一床被， 一床褥子 bed sheet 一床被单
次 cì
  1. Time: individual measure for the number of repetitions in a given period of time
  2. Measure for number of times an action is taken
 A. a trial 一次试验 one accident 一次事故 one crisis 一次经济危机 a reform 一次改革 one operation 一次手术 B. go once 去一次 come once 来一次 eat once 吃一次 meet twice 见了两次面 listen to lesson once 听力一次课 an operation 一个手术
沓 dá Pad: group measure for pile of sheets paper一沓纸 envelopes 一沓信封 money 一沓钱
袋 dài Container measure for things put into a bag flour 一袋面粉 grain 一袋粮食, cookies 一袋饼干
道 dào
  1. Line, beam: individual measure for things in the shape of a line
  2. Individual measure for wall, fence
  3. Individual measure for orders, math question
 A. light 一道光 wrinkles 几道皱纹 B. door 一道门 barrier 一道关 C. order 一道命令 math question 一道题
滴 dī Partitive measure for dropping droplet tear 一滴眼泪 sweat 一滴汗 water 一滴水 blood 一滴血
点 diǎn Partitive measure for point, item, etc opinion 一点意见 suggestions 几点建议
顶 dǐng Individual measure for objects with protruding top cap 一顶帽子 tent 一顶帐篷
栋 dòng Individual measure for house or other structure building 一栋楼房 house 一栋房子
堵 dǔ Individual measure for encompassing fixtures wall 一堵墙 wall 一道墙
段 duàn
  1. Section, length: partitive measure for a part
  2. Partitive measure for a length of time or distance
  3. Partitive measure for part of a song, talk, music, story, recalling, etc.
 A. railway track 一段铁轨 tube 一段管子 B. time 一段时间 distance 一段距离 travel distance 一段路程 experience 一段经历 C. cross talk 一段相声 talk 一段话， music 一段音乐
堆 duī Pile, crowd: partitive measure for a people and things things 一堆东西 stone 一堆石头 clothes 一堆衣服
对 duì Pair, group measure for couple, matched pair couplets couple 一对夫妻 vases 一对花瓶 earrings一对耳环
顿 dùn
  1. Individual measure for regular meals
  2. Measure for verbs of criticizing, abusing
 a meal 一顿饭 beating 一顿打 quarrel 一顿吵 scolding 一顿骂
朵 duǒ Individual measure for flowers, clouds a flower 一朵花 a cloud 一朵云
发 fā Individual measure for bullets, shells a bullet 一发子弹
番 fān
  1. Once over, individual measure for the course of any action which takes time and energy
  2. Kind, individual measure for kindness
 hard work 一番苦功 talk 一番话 setbacks 一番周折 repeatedly 三番五次 B. kindness 一番好意 （一番心意，一番好心）
份 fèn
  1. Partitive measure for portions
  2. Partitive measure for multi-page documents
 A. a gift 一份礼物 a meal 一份饭 a fast food 一份快餐 B. a document 一份文件 material 一份材料 a job 一份工作
封 fēng Individual measure for things that can be sealed a letter 一封信 telegram 一封电报
幅 fú
  1. Individual measure for picture-like objects
  2. Individual measure for a scene in drama, fiction
 painting 一幅画 scene 一副景象 sight 一幅场面
服 fù Group measure for amount of herbal medicine taken at one time a herbal medicine 一服中药
副 fù
  1. Pair, set: group measure for objects which come in pairs
  2. Individual measure for an expression on one's face
 earphone 一副耳机 couplet 一副对联 B. smiling expression 一副笑脸 a serious looking face 一副严肃的面孔
个 gè
  1. Individual measure for persons
  2. Individual measure for time, date
  3. Individual measure for area, country or unit
  4. Individual measure for material things
  5. Individual measure for some abstract nouns denoting reason or state of affairs
  6. Individual measure for certain actions, usually used between verb and its object
 A. a worker 一个工人 a student 一个学生 B. one morning 一个早上 a month 一个月 C. a factory 一个工厂 a shop 一个商店 D. a cup 一个杯子 an egg 一个鸡蛋 E. a problem 一个问题 a reason 一个理由 F. made a dream 做了一个梦 to yawn 打了一个哈欠 个 ge is generally accepted if the person does not know the proper measure word
根 gēn Individual measure for thin, slender objects, flexible strands a rope 一根绳子 a needle 一根针 cigarette 一根烟
股 gǔ
  1. Stream, strand: partitive measure for a stream of water or air
  2. Puff: partitive measure for a short, quick sending out of breath, air
 A. cold current 一股寒流 B. fragrant smell 一股香味 a gust of wind 一股风 stink 一股臭味
挂 guà Group measure for series of things threaded on a string firecrackers 一挂鞭炮
管 guǎn Tube: individual measure for things in the shape of a long, hollow cylinder toothpaste 一管牙膏
行 háng Group measure for objects which form lines lines of characters 几行字 a line of trees 一行树
盒 hé Container measure for a box of... a box of candies 一盒糖
户 hù Individual measure for household a household 一户人家
回 huí
  1. Individual measure for a matter, a thing
  2. Measure for number of times an action is taken
 A. the thing is like this 是这么一回事 B. have once been there 去过一回
伙 huǒ Group measure for gangs or hoodlums a group of hoodlums 一伙流氓 a group of scoundrels 一伙坏人
级 jí
  1. Individual measure for stair, step
  2. Individual measure for grade, rank, level
 climb 60 stairs 上了60级台阶 second-grade chef 二级厨师
剂 jì Group measure for a dose of medicine a dose of herbal medicine 一剂汤药 same as 副 and 服
家 jiā
  1. Individual measure for a family
  2. Individual measure for institutions, enterprise
 a few families 几家人 a shop 一家商店 B. same as 个ge
架 jià Individual measure for a machine, vehicle aircraft 一架飞机 piano 一架钢琴
间 jiān Individual measure for room or spaces three rooms 三间屋子 one office 一间办公室
件 jiàn Individual measure for clothes, furniture, affairs a luggage 一件行李 a piece of clothes 一件衣服 a thing 一件东西 matter 一件事
节 jié Partitive measure for things with joints B. Partitive measure for a class period, a section a bamboo 一节竹子 a battery 一节电池 a period of lesson 一节课
截 jié Partitive measure for a part of long, narrow thing a cut wood 一截木头 part of a rope 一截绳子
届 jiè Individual measure for regularly scheduled sessions or meetings, graduation class, term of office two sessions of graduates 两届毕业生
句 jù Sentence: individual measure for a sentence, a talk or a line of poem talk of a few words 几句话
卷 juǎn Roll: partitive measure for things made into the shape of a cylinder by being rolled a roll of paper 一卷纸 a roll of something 一卷东西
棵 kē Individual measure for plants, trees grass a big tree 一棵大树 a grass 一棵草 scallion 一棵葱
颗 kē Individual measure for small and round objects a kind heart 一颗善良的心 a pearl 一颗珠子 a star 一颗星
课 kè Individual measure for lessons 10 lessons 十课
口 kǒu
  1. Individual measure for human beings，wells
  2. Mouthful
 four members in a family 一家四口人 a mouthful of water 一口水
块 kuài Partitive measure of a lump, a piece with or without a regular shape a soap 一块肥皂 cloth 一块布 a piece of wood 一块木头 a chocolate 一块巧克力 a watch 一块手表 a glass 一块玻璃
类 lèi Group measure for class of persons or objects of the same type or nature one kind of people 一类人 this kind of problem 这类问题
粒 lì Grain, individual measure for small, hard things like rice, sand, seed a seed 一粒种子 uncooked rice 一粒米
辆 liàng Individual measure for wheeled vehicles a bike 一辆自行车 a bus 一辆公共汽车 a car 一辆轿车 a lorry 一辆卡车
列 liè Trains, group measure for a line of vehicles or things a wagon 一列货车
枚 méi Piece: individual measure for badges, stamps, or some small flat or round shaped things a medal 一枚勋章 a stamp 一枚邮票 a coin 一枚硬币
门 mén
  1. Individual measure for cannons, artillery
  2. Individual measure for courses in a school, branch of knowledge, subject of instruction
 a cannon 一门大炮 a course 一门课 a science 一门科学
面 miàn Individual measure for flat and smooth objects like mirror, drum, flag, wall with roof, shield a mirror 一面镜子 a drum 一面鼓 a flag 一面旗
名 míng Individual measure for high-rank persons in general a scholar 一名学者 a doctor 一名医生
排 pái Group measure for a line of people or objects grouped in rows a row of building 一排楼房 a row of fruit trees 一排果树 a row of people 一排人 a row of chair 一排椅子
盘 pán
  1. Coil: individual measure for flat objects or reels like video or audio cassette, small plate, coil of incense
  2. Container measure for contents of a plate
 a cassette 一盘磁带 mosquito coil incense 一盘蚊香 a plate of dish 一盘菜
批 pī Batch: group of measure for a group of persons or things a group of people 一批人 a batch of products 一批产品
匹 pǐ
  1. Individual measure for horses, mules, camels
  2. Individual measure for bolts of cloth
 a horse 一匹马 a bolt of cloth 一匹布
篇 piān Individual measure for writings, prose, essays, biography a novel 一篇小说 thesis 一篇论文
片 piàn
  1. Slice: partitive measure for part or bit of a solid substance
  2. Stretch: partitive measure for a vast expanse of something
  3. Partitive measure for scene, sound, speech, intention
 A. a slice of bread 一片面包 B. a rice field 一片稻田 a residential area 一片居民区 an open ground 一片空地 C. a great rejoice 一片欢腾 noise 一片嘈杂
瓶 píng Bottle, jar: container measure for bottles alcohol 一瓶酒 drink 一瓶饮料
期 qī Issue: Individual measure for a magazine or other publication which appears at regular intervals a periodical magazine 一期杂志 first training course 第一期培训班
起 qǐ Individual measure for an accident, event or happening a traffic accident 一起车祸 a happening 一起事故
群 qún Crowd，flock：group measure for a number of people or herd a group of people 一群人 group of sheep 一群羊 a group of ducks 一群鸭子
扇 shàn Individual measure for things that open and close on hinges a door 一扇门 a window 一扇窗户
勺 sháo Spoon: container measure for contents in a spoon a spoonful soup 一勺汤 a spoonful of food 一勺饭
身 shēn
  1. Suit: group measure for a suit
  2. Body: temporary measure for being covered all over by something
 a suit 一身西服 splash all over with water 溅了一身水 sweat all over 出了一身汗
声 shēng
  1. Individual measure for that which can be heard
  2. Measure for shout, cry, laugh, yell
 a sound 一声响 just tell 告诉一声
手 shǒu Hand: individual measure for a kind of skill write good characters 写一手好字 show off one's skill 露一手
首 shǒu Individual measure for a piece of a poem or song a song 一首歌 a poem 一首诗
束 shù Bunch, bundle: group measure for a collection of things of the same sort placed together a bunch of flowers 一束花 a bunch of flowers 一把花
双 shuāng Pair: group measure for objects which naturally come in pairs a pair of shoes 一双鞋 chopsticks 一双筷子 a pair of socks 一双袜子
艘 sōu Individual measure for ships a steamer 一艘轮船 a freighter 一艘货轮
所 suǒ Individual measure for a house or other structure a bank 一所银行 a school 一所学校 a factory 一所工厂 a post office 一所邮局 个 ge is also possible
台 tái Individual measure for heavy objects, machines a TV set 一台电视机 a computer 一台电脑
堂 táng Individual measure for a class period a class period 一堂课
趟 tàng
  1. Individual measure for a scheduled transportation service
  2. Measure for certain actions such as come and go
 A. a flight 一趟班机 this bus 这趟车 B. 来一趟，去一趟
套 tào Set: group measure for a set of things a set of text books 一套课本 a set of furniture 一套家具 a suit 一套西服 a tea set 一套茶具
条 tiáo
  1. Individual measure for objects of long, narrow flexible objects
  2. Individual measure for certain insects or plants
 A. a rope 一条绳子 pants 一条裤子 necktie 一条领带 skirt 一条裙子 a boat 一条船 heroic person 一条好汉 B. a fish 一条鱼 a snake 一条蛇 a dog 一条狗 a road 一条路 a river 一条河
头 tóu Head: Individual measure for domestic or wild animals ox 一头牛 donkey 一头驴 pig 一头猪 elephant 一头象
团 tuán Lump, mess: partitive measure for material gathered, rolled or wound into a round mass a ball of waste paper 一团废纸 a cotton ball 一团棉花
碗 wǎn Bowl: container measure for deep, round, hollow vessel a bowl of dish 一碗菜 a bowl of rice 一碗饭 a bowl of soup 一碗汤
位 wèi Individual measure for people in a polite way an old person 一位老人
窝 wō Nest: group measure for all sorts of small animals or insects a nest of birds 一窝鸟
下 xià Measure for verbs indicating the time an action is done think for a while 想一下 have a look 看一下
项 xiàng Item: individual measure for something stipulated, planned a task 一项任务 a project 一项工程 a condition 一向条件 个 ge can be used as well
些 xiē Some, an amount of, a number of: partitive measure for indefinite amount or number some people 一些人 some things 一些事 some problems 一些问题
样 yàng Kind, sort: individual measure for a variety of material objects a few kinds of dishes 几样菜 three kinds of fruits 三样水果
页 yè Page: partitive measure for one side of a sheet of paper in a book, periodical a page of teaching material 一页讲义 read a few pages 看了几页书
盏 zhǎn Individual measure for lamps a few colored light 几盏彩灯
张 zhāng Sheet: individual measure for flat things or with a flat surface a sheet of paper 一张纸 a map 一张地图 a ticket 一张票 a picture 一张照片
支 zhī
  1. Individual measure for troops
  2. Individual measure for songs, melodies
  3. Individual measure for long ,stick-like objects
 an army 一支军队 a troop 一支队伍 a song 一支歌 a melody 一支曲子 a folk song 一支民歌 一支铅笔 B. 首 is another alternative for songs
只 zhī One of a pair: individual measure for one of two things of the same kind used together hand 一只手 a foot 一只脚 a cat 一只猫 a fly 一只苍蝇
枝 zhī
  1. Branch: individual measure for a branch of a tree or plant
  2. Alternative form of 支
 flowers 几枝花 a writing brush 一枝毛笔
种 zhǒng Species, kind: group measure for a number of persons or things of the same kind one kind of people 一种人 a kind of thing 一种东西 a kind of habit 一种习惯
座 zuò Individual measure for a big building, structure, mountain a mountain 一座山 a temple 一座庙 a city 一座城市 a bridge 一座桥
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