Measure words (classifiers)

Structure Number + Measure word + Noun

In Chinese you don’t count "three books" but "three [measure word] books": between the number and the noun there is ALWAYS a measure word (量词). Each noun has its own: 本 for books, 张 for flat things, 杯 for cups/glasses, 只 for small animals… The catch-all, which nearly always works, is 个 (ge). Measure words also follow 这/那 and 几.

Examples

我wǒ想xiǎng喝hē一yī杯bēi水shuǐ。
I want to drink a glass of water.
他tā买mǎi了le三sān个ge苹píng果guǒ。
He bought three apples.
这zhè本běn书shū很hěn好hǎo。
This book is very good.

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