Resources / Sentences / Measure Words
Chinese Measure Words
Chinese puts a measure word, 量词 (liàngcí), also called a classifier, between a number and a noun: 三本书 (sān běn shū), three books. When you're unsure, 个 (gè) is the safe default.
Updated October 2026 · 36 measure words with audio · Free, no sign-up
The 12 you'll use most
- 个 (gè): people and everyday things, 三个人 sān ge rén
- 本 (běn): books, 一本书 yì běn shū
- 张 (zhāng): flat things: tickets, paper, 两张票 liǎng zhāng piào
- 只 (zhī): most animals, 一只猫 yì zhī māo
- 条 (tiáo): long things: trousers, fish, 一条裤子 yì tiáo kùzi
- 件 (jiàn): tops and coats, 一件衣服 yí jiàn yīfu
- 杯 (bēi): cups of drinks, 一杯咖啡 yì bēi kāfēi
- 瓶 (píng): bottles, 两瓶啤酒 liǎng píng píjiǔ
- 双 (shuāng): pairs, 一双鞋 yì shuāng xié
- 把 (bǎ): things with a handle, 一把伞 yì bǎ sǎn
- 辆 (liàng): cars and bikes, 一辆车 yí liàng chē
- 位 (wèi): people, politely, 一位老师 yí wèi lǎoshī
Measure words for people
个 (gè) works for anyone, 位 (wèi) is the polite one, and 名 (míng) is for official counts.
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 个 gè | The default: people, and everyday things with no special measure word 人 rén (person) · 朋友 péngyou (friend) · 苹果 píngguǒ (apple) · 问题 wèntí (question) | 三个人 sān ge rén three people | Leaving it out. Say 三个人 (sān ge rén); 三人 (sān rén) only turns up in set phrases and formal writing. After a number 个 (gè) goes light: sān ge, not sān gè. |
| 位 wèi | People, politely 老师 lǎoshī (teacher) · 客人 kèrén (guest) · 医生 yīshēng (doctor) · 先生 xiānsheng (gentleman, Mr) · 女士 nǚshì (lady, Ms) | 一位老师 yí wèi lǎoshī one teacher | Using it about yourself: 我是一位学生 (wǒ shì yí wèi xuésheng) ✗. 位 (wèi) honors the person you describe, so say 我是一个学生 (wǒ shì yí ge xuésheng). |
| 名 míng | Formal counts: news, reports, official numbers 学生 xuésheng (student) · 医生 yīshēng (doctor) · 工人 gōngrén (worker) · 运动员 yùndòngyuán (athlete) | 三名学生 sān míng xuésheng three students | Using it in casual speech. 名 (míng) sounds like a news report; with friends you'd say 三个学生 (sān ge xuésheng). |
Print: Family words worksheet
Measure words for animals
Most animals take 只 (zhī). Long ones take 条 (tiáo), big farm animals 头 (tóu), and horses 匹 (pǐ).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 只 zhī | Most animals, and one of a pair, like 一只手 (yì zhī shǒu), one hand 猫 māo (cat) · 狗 gǒu (dog) · 鸟 niǎo (bird) · 鸡 jī (chicken) · 熊猫 xióngmāo (panda) · 手 shǒu (hand) | 一只猫 yì zhī māo one cat | Assuming it covers every animal. Fish and snakes take 条 (tiáo), cows 头 (tóu) and horses 匹 (pǐ). |
| 条 tiáo | Long, bendy animals 鱼 yú (fish) · 蛇 shé (snake) · 狗 gǒu (dog) | 一条鱼 yì tiáo yú one fish | Using 只 (zhī) for fish. A fish is long, so it's 一条鱼 (yì tiáo yú). Dogs can take either: 一只狗 (yì zhī gǒu) or 一条狗 (yì tiáo gǒu). |
| 头 tóu | Big animals, especially livestock 牛 niú (cow, ox) · 猪 zhū (pig) · 羊 yáng (sheep) · 大象 dàxiàng (elephant) | 一头牛 yì tóu niú one cow | Reaching for 只 (zhī) out of habit. Big animals are counted by the head, 头 (tóu): 一头牛 (yì tóu niú), 一头大象 (yì tóu dàxiàng). |
| 匹 pǐ | Horses, and a few other large animals 马 mǎ (horse) · 狼 láng (wolf) · 骆驼 luòtuo (camel) | 一匹马 yì pǐ mǎ one horse | Calling a horse 一只马 (yì zhī mǎ). Horses have their own measure word: 一匹马 (yì pǐ mǎ). |
Print: Animals worksheet
Measure words for food and drinks
Drinks are counted by what holds them: a cup, a bottle, a bowl. Pieces and portions have their own words.
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 杯 bēi | Cupfuls and glassfuls 咖啡 kāfēi (coffee) · 茶 chá (tea) · 奶茶 nǎichá (milk tea) · 水 shuǐ (water) · 牛奶 niúnǎi (milk) | 一杯咖啡 yì bēi kāfēi a cup of coffee | Leaving the cup out when you order: 我要一咖啡 (wǒ yào yì kāfēi) ✗ → 我要一杯咖啡 (wǒ yào yì bēi kāfēi). |
| 瓶 píng | Bottles 啤酒 píjiǔ (beer) · 水 shuǐ (water) · 牛奶 niúnǎi (milk) · 酒 jiǔ (wine, liquor) | 两瓶啤酒 liǎng píng píjiǔ two bottles of beer | Saying 二瓶 (èr píng). Right before a measure word, “two” is 两 (liǎng), never 二 (èr). |
| 碗 wǎn | Bowlfuls 饭 fàn (rice, a meal) · 面条 miàntiáo (noodles) · 汤 tāng (soup) · 粥 zhōu (congee) | 一碗饭 yì wǎn fàn a bowl of rice | Mixing up the bowl and what's in it: 一个碗 (yí ge wǎn) is an empty bowl, 一碗饭 (yì wǎn fàn) is a bowl of rice. |
| 块 kuài | Chunks and pieces, and money when you speak 蛋糕 dàngāo (cake) · 面包 miànbāo (bread) · 糖 táng (sweet, candy) · 石头 shítou (stone) · 钱 qián (money) | 一块蛋糕 yí kuài dàngāo a piece of cake | Not knowing it doubles as money. 十块钱 (shí kuài qián) is what you say; 元 (yuán) is what's printed on the price tag. |
| 份 fèn | Portions you order, copies and jobs 早餐 zǎocān (breakfast) · 午餐 wǔcān (lunch) · 报纸 bàozhǐ (newspaper) · 文件 wénjiàn (document) · 工作 gōngzuò (job) | 一份早餐 yí fèn zǎocān one breakfast (one serving) | Falling back on 个 (gè) for servings and paperwork. Order 一份早餐 (yí fèn zǎocān), ask for 一份报纸 (yí fèn bàozhǐ), and a job is 一份工作 (yí fèn gōngzuò). |
Print: Food and drinks worksheet · Drinks worksheet · Shopping worksheet
Measure words for clothes and shoes
Tops take 件 (jiàn), anything you step into takes 条 (tiáo), pairs take 双 (shuāng), glasses 副 (fù), and hats 顶 (dǐng).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 件 jiàn | Tops and coats, and matters to deal with 衣服 yīfu (clothes) · 衬衫 chènshān (shirt) · 外套 wàitào (coat, jacket) · 毛衣 máoyī (sweater) · 事 shì (matter) | 一件衣服 yí jiàn yīfu one piece of clothing | Using 件 (jiàn) for trousers or skirts. Anything you step into is 条 (tiáo). |
| 条 tiáo | Trousers, skirts and ties 裤子 kùzi (trousers) · 裙子 qúnzi (skirt) · 领带 lǐngdài (tie) | 一条裤子 yì tiáo kùzi a pair of trousers | Reaching for 双 (shuāng) because English says “a pair”. That one is for two separate matching items; trousers are one 条 (tiáo). |
| 双 shuāng | Pairs of two matching items 鞋 xié (shoes) · 袜子 wàzi (socks) · 筷子 kuàizi (chopsticks) · 手套 shǒutào (gloves) | 一双鞋 yì shuāng xié a pair of shoes | Counting one shoe with 双 (shuāng), which is the pair. A single shoe or sock is 只 (zhī): 一只鞋 (yì zhī xié). |
| 副 fù | Glasses, and sets like playing cards 眼镜 yǎnjìng (glasses) · 墨镜 mòjìng (sunglasses) · 扑克牌 pūkèpái (playing cards) · 麻将 májiàng (mahjong set) | 一副眼镜 yí fù yǎnjìng a pair of glasses | Using 双 (shuāng) for glasses. It's for two separate things, like shoes; glasses are one object, so they take 副 (fù). |
| 顶 dǐng | Hats, and tents 帽子 màozi (hat) · 帐篷 zhàngpeng (tent) | 一顶帽子 yì dǐng màozi one hat | Using 件 (jiàn) because a hat is clothing. That one is for what you wear on your body; a hat sits on top: 一顶帽子 (yì dǐng màozi). |
| 套 tào | Sets: suits, furniture, apartments 西装 xīzhuāng (suit) · 衣服 yīfu (outfit) · 家具 jiājù (set of furniture) · 公寓 gōngyù (apartment) | 一套西装 yí tào xīzhuāng a suit | Counting a suit with 件 (jiàn). One jacket is 一件 (yí jiàn); the matching set is 一套西装 (yí tào xīzhuāng). |
Print: Clothes worksheet
Measure words for books, paper and songs
Bound books take 本 (běn), single sheets 张 (zhāng), letters 封 (fēng), pieces of writing 篇 (piān), and songs 首 (shǒu).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 本 běn | Bound books and magazines 书 shū (book) · 小说 xiǎoshuō (novel) · 杂志 zázhì (magazine) · 字典 zìdiǎn (dictionary) · 笔记本 bǐjìběn (notebook) | 一本书 yì běn shū one book | Falling back on 个 (gè) for books: 一个书 (yí ge shū) ✗. Books are always 本 (běn). |
| 张 zhāng | Flat sheets: paper, tickets, photos, maps 纸 zhǐ (sheet of paper) · 票 piào (ticket) · 照片 zhàopiàn (photo) · 地图 dìtú (map) | 两张票 liǎng zhāng piào two tickets | Saying 一个票 (yí ge piào) or 一个照片 (yí ge zhàopiàn). Anything that is one flat sheet takes 张 (zhāng). |
| 封 fēng | Letters and emails 信 xìn (letter) · 电子邮件 diànzǐ yóujiàn (email) | 一封信 yì fēng xìn one letter | Using 张 (zhāng) because a letter is paper. It counts sheets; a letter or an email is 封 (fēng). |
| 篇 piān | Articles, essays and other pieces of writing 文章 wénzhāng (article) · 作文 zuòwén (essay) · 论文 lùnwén (paper, thesis) · 日记 rìjì (diary entry) | 一篇文章 yì piān wénzhāng one article | Using 本 (běn) for an article. That's for a bound book; one piece of writing is 篇 (piān). |
| 首 shǒu | Songs and poems 歌 gē (song) · 诗 shī (poem) | 一首歌 yì shǒu gē one song | Using 个 (gè) for songs: 一个歌 (yí ge gē) ✗ → 一首歌 (yì shǒu gē). |
Measure words for everyday objects
Shape decides: long things take 条 (tiáo), flat things 张 (zhāng), thin sticks 支 (zhī), and anything with a handle 把 (bǎ).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 条 tiáo | Long, narrow or winding things 路 lù (road) · 河 hé (river) · 街 jiē (street) · 毛巾 máojīn (towel) · 新闻 xīnwén (news item) | 一条路 yì tiáo lù one road | Using 个 (gè) for roads and rivers. Long things take 条 (tiáo), and so does a piece of news: 一条新闻 (yì tiáo xīnwén). |
| 张 zhāng | Flat surfaces: tables, beds, sofas 桌子 zhuōzi (table) · 床 chuáng (bed) · 沙发 shāfā (sofa) · 脸 liǎn (face) | 一张桌子 yì zhāng zhuōzi one table | Stretching it to chairs because tables take it. A chair is usually 一把椅子 (yì bǎ yǐzi). |
| 支 zhī | Thin, stick-like things 笔 bǐ (pen) · 铅笔 qiānbǐ (pencil) · 蜡烛 làzhú (candle) | 一支笔 yì zhī bǐ one pen | Confusing it with 只 (zhī). Same sound, different character: 支 (zhī) is for sticks, 只 (zhī) is for animals. |
| 把 bǎ | Things you hold by a handle 伞 sǎn (umbrella) · 钥匙 yàoshi (key) · 刀 dāo (knife) · 椅子 yǐzi (chair) · 剪刀 jiǎndāo (scissors) | 一把伞 yì bǎ sǎn one umbrella | Copying 张 (zhāng) across from tables to chairs. 一把椅子 (yì bǎ yǐzi) is the safe choice; 一张椅子 (yì zhāng yǐzi) is also heard. |
Measure words for vehicles and machines
Anything on wheels takes 辆 (liàng), appliances 台 (tái), phones and films 部 (bù), and aircraft 架 (jià).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 辆 liàng | Vehicles on wheels 车 chē (car, vehicle) · 汽车 qìchē (car) · 自行车 zìxíngchē (bicycle) · 公交车 gōngjiāochē (bus) · 卡车 kǎchē (truck) | 一辆车 yí liàng chē one car | Using 台 (tái) for cars. That's for appliances; anything on wheels is 辆 (liàng). |
| 台 tái | Machines and appliances 电脑 diànnǎo (computer) · 电视 diànshì (TV set) · 洗衣机 xǐyījī (washing machine) · 空调 kōngtiáo (air conditioner) | 一台电脑 yì tái diànnǎo one computer | Extending it to phones. A mobile phone takes 部 (bù): 一部手机 (yí bù shǒujī). |
| 部 bù | Phones, films and long works 手机 shǒujī (mobile phone) · 电影 diànyǐng (film) · 电视剧 diànshìjù (TV series) · 小说 xiǎoshuō (novel) | 一部电影 yí bù diànyǐng one film | Using 个 (gè) for films: 一个电影 (yí ge diànyǐng) ✗ → 一部电影 (yí bù diànyǐng). |
| 架 jià | Aircraft and pianos 飞机 fēijī (plane) · 直升机 zhíshēngjī (helicopter) · 钢琴 gāngqín (piano) | 一架飞机 yí jià fēijī one plane | Using 辆 (liàng) for planes. It's for road vehicles; aircraft take 架 (jià). |
Measure words for places and buildings
Businesses take 家 (jiā), big landmarks that stay put take 座 (zuò), and rooms take 间 (jiān).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 家 jiā | Businesses and other establishments 公司 gōngsī (company) · 餐厅 cāntīng (restaurant) · 商店 shāngdiàn (shop) · 银行 yínháng (bank) · 医院 yīyuàn (hospital) | 一家餐厅 yì jiā cāntīng one restaurant | Defaulting to 个 (gè) for a company. 一个公司 (yí ge gōngsī) sounds off; say 一家公司 (yì jiā gōngsī). |
| 座 zuò | Mountains, bridges, buildings and cities 山 shān (mountain) · 桥 qiáo (bridge) · 大楼 dàlóu (building) · 城市 chéngshì (city) | 一座山 yí zuò shān one mountain | Using 个 (gè) for big landmarks. Mountains, bridges and tall buildings take 座 (zuò): 一座桥 (yí zuò qiáo). |
| 间 jiān | Rooms 房间 fángjiān (room) · 教室 jiàoshì (classroom) · 卧室 wòshì (bedroom) · 厕所 cèsuǒ (toilet) | 一间教室 yì jiān jiàoshì one classroom | Mixing up 间 (jiān) and 家 (jiā). The first counts rooms, the second businesses: 一间教室 (yì jiān jiàoshì), 一家餐厅 (yì jiā cāntīng). |
Measure words for plants
Trees and plants take 棵 (kē); a single flower or a cloud takes 朵 (duǒ).
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 棵 kē | Trees and plants 树 shù (tree) · 草 cǎo (grass) · 白菜 báicài (Chinese cabbage) | 一棵树 yì kē shù one tree | Using 个 (gè) for trees: 一个树 (yí ge shù) ✗ → 一棵树 (yì kē shù). |
| 朵 duǒ | Single flowers, and clouds 花 huā (flower) · 玫瑰 méiguī (rose) · 云 yún (cloud) | 一朵花 yì duǒ huā one flower | Using it for a bunch. 朵 (duǒ) is one bloom; a bouquet is 一束花 (yí shù huā). |
Measure words for actions and amounts
Some measure words count how often something happens, not things. And 些 (xiē) means “some”.
| Measure word | Used for | Example | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| 次 cì | How many times something happens 去 qù (go) · 看 kàn (see, visit) · 考试 kǎoshì (exam) · 旅行 lǚxíng (trip) | 我去过两次 wǒ qùguo liǎng cì I've been twice | Putting it before the verb. The count comes after: 我去过两次 (wǒ qùguo liǎng cì), not 我两次去过 (wǒ liǎng cì qùguo). |
| 遍 biàn | A full run-through, from start to finish 说 shuō (say) · 读 dú (read) · 听 tīng (listen) · 看 kàn (watch) | 再说一遍 zài shuō yí biàn say it again | Using 次 (cì) when you mean “all the way through”. 看了两遍 (kànle liǎng biàn) means you watched the whole thing twice; 两次 (liǎng cì) only counts occasions. |
| 些 xiē | An unspecified amount: some 人 rén (people) · 书 shū (books) · 东西 dōngxi (things) | 一些书 yìxiē shū some books | Putting a number in front: 三些书 (sān xiē shū) ✗. 些 (xiē) only follows 一 (yī), 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà): 一些 (yìxiē), 这些 (zhèxiē), 那些 (nàxiē). |
Can you use 个 (gè) for everything?
Almost. 个 (gè) is the general measure word for people and many everyday things, but common nouns with their own measure word sound wrong with it:
- 一个书 → 一本书 yì běn shū, one book
- 一个猫 → 一只猫 yì zhī māo, one cat
- 一个票 → 一张票 yì zhāng piào, one ticket
两 (liǎng) or 二 (èr) before a measure word?
Right before a measure word, two is 两 (liǎng):
- 两本书 liǎng běn shū: two books
- 两杯茶 liǎng bēi chá: two cups of tea
- 两个人 liǎng ge rén: two people
Use 二 (èr) for counting, digits, ordinals and dates:
- 第二 dì èr: the second
- 二十 èrshí: twenty
- 二月 èryuè: February
- 二十本书 èrshí běn shū: twenty books
一 (yī) changes its tone with the measure word behind it: the tone change rules.
位 (wèi) vs 个 (gè): counting people politely
- 三个人 sān ge rén · 三位客人 sān wèi kèrén: three people / three guests
- 一个老师 yí ge lǎoshī · 一位老师 yí wèi lǎoshī: one teacher (neutral / respectful)
- 那个人 nà ge rén · 那位先生 nà wèi xiānsheng: that person / that gentleman
Never use 位 (wèi) about yourself. More polite Chinese
这 (zhè), 那 (nà), 几 (jǐ) and 每 (měi) take a measure word too
- 这本书 zhè běn shū: this book
- 那位老师 nà wèi lǎoshī: that teacher
- 几个人？ jǐ ge rén?: how many people?
- 每个星期 měi ge xīngqī: every week
Common questions
What are measure words in Chinese?
Measure words, or classifiers (量词, liàngcí), go between a number or 这 (zhè, this) and a noun: 三本书 (sān běn shū, three books). English uses them for only some nouns, as in a cup of tea; Mandarin needs one almost every time you count. The pattern is number + measure word + noun, and the measure word never moves.
How many measure words are there in Chinese?
Dictionaries list a few hundred, but a small core covers most everyday counting. This page teaches the 36 you'll use most, grouped by what they count: people, animals, food, clothes, books, objects, vehicles, places, plants and actions. Start with these 12: 个 (gè), 本 (běn), 张 (zhāng), 只 (zhī), 条 (tiáo), 件 (jiàn), 杯 (bēi), 瓶 (píng), 双 (shuāng), 把 (bǎ), 辆 (liàng) and 位 (wèi).
What is the most common Chinese measure word?
个 (gè) is the general measure word for people and many everyday things: 一个人 (yí ge rén, one person), 三个苹果 (sān ge píngguǒ, three apples). After a number it is usually said lightly, as ge. If you cannot recall the right measure word in the middle of a sentence, use 个 and keep talking.
Can I use 个 (gè) for everything?
You will usually be understood, but 个 sounds wrong with many common nouns. Learn the frequent pairs first: 本 (běn) for books, 张 (zhāng) for flat things like tickets, 只 (zhī) for most animals, 杯 (bēi) for cups and glasses, 辆 (liàng) for vehicles and 件 (jiàn) for tops and matters. Keep 个 as a fallback, not a default.
Why is it 两个 (liǎng ge) and not 二个 (èr ge)?
Right before a measure word, two is 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr): 两本书 (liǎng běn shū, two books). Use 二 for counting, digits, ordinals and dates, such as 二十 (èrshí, twenty), 第二 (dì èr, second) and 二月 (èryuè, February).
What is the Chinese measure word for people?
Use 个 (gè) for people in everyday speech: 三个人 (sān ge rén, three people). Use 位 (wèi) to count people politely, such as teachers, guests and customers, as in 一位老师 (yí wèi lǎoshī, one teacher), but never for yourself. 名 (míng) is formal, for official counts: 三名学生 (sān míng xuésheng, three students).
How do I find the measure word for a noun?
Type the noun into the finder at the top of this page, in English, Chinese characters or pinyin. It checks SayMei's table first, then the CC-CEDICT dictionary, and shows the usual measure word with an example you can play, plus any others you may hear. If a noun has no special measure word, use 个 (gè).
Keep going
- Measure Words in Real Life: Free PDF · 12 pages · audio companion
- Trace the 12 measure words on a printable worksheet
- Count It Out: An HSK 1 song about counting things
Classifier data: CC-CEDICT (CC BY-SA 4.0).