Chinese Measure Words

Question 1

个

Answer 1

ge

generic measure word.

Used primarily for people, objects and words.

i.e. 两个人， 七个月

Question 2

位

Answer 2

wei

measure word for people.

i.e. 三位同事，十位客人

Question 3

只

Answer 3

zhi

generic word for small animals

also used for an individual items that usually comes in pairs

i.e. 一只鞋，两只鸟

Question 4

头

Answer 4

tou

generic word for big animals

i.e. 三头牛， 捂头大象

Question 5

条

Answer 5

tiao

measure word for things with a long, narrow shape.

Also used for cloths below the waist.

Also used for fish.

i.e. 一条裤子，三条鱼

Question 6

双

Answer 6

shuang

measure word for pairs (items that can be separated)

i.e. 一双鞋， 一双手

Question 7

张

Answer 7

zhang

measure word for flat object.

Also used for pieces of furniture.

i.e. 五张椅子，两张菜单

Question 8

本

Answer 8

ben

measure word for bound, book-like items.

i.e. 四本书， 六本词典

Question 9

把

Answer 9

ba

measure word for items with a handle.

i.e. 七把伞， 一把椅子

Question 10

件

Answer 10

jian

measure word for cloths above the waist.

Also used for furniture.

Also used for various other non-descript items.

i.e. 物件衬衫， 一件礼物

Question 11

辆

Answer 11

liang

measure word for vehicles with wheels (apart from trains)

i.e. 两辆公共汽车， 三辆自行车

Question 12

家

Answer 12

jia

measure word for business establishments

i.e. 四家公司， 一家饭店

Question 13

杯、瓶

Answer 13

bei / ping

measure word for glass / bottle. Directly translates as ‘glass / bottle of…’.

i.e. 四杯水， 七杯可乐

Question 14

份

Answer 14

fen

measure word for food. Directly translates as ‘portion of…’.

Also used for documents, newspapers etc.

i.e. 一份饺子， 两份报纸

Question 15

碗

Answer 15

wan

measure word for food that comes in a bowl. Directly translates as ‘bowl of…’.

i.e. 一碗米饭， 两碗面条

Question 16

种

Answer 16

zhong

measure word for categories, sort or type of something, referring to objects or feelings

i.e. 一种动物， 一种感觉

Question 17

匹

Answer 17

pi

measure word for horses

i.e. 一匹马

Question 18

棵

Answer 18

ke

measure word for trees

i.e. 两棵树

Question 19

间

Answer 19

jian

measure word for rooms

i.e. 三间教室

Question 20

块

Answer 20

kuai

measure word for piece / slice. Directly translates as ‘piece / slice of…’.

i.e. 四块蛋糕

Question 21

盘

Answer 21

pan

measure word for plate. Directly translates as ‘plate of…’.

i.e. 一盘香蕉

Question 22

架

Answer 22

jia

measure word for aeroplanes

i.e. 五架飞机

Question 23

艘

Answer 23

sou

measure word for ships

i.e. 一所帆船

Question 24

列

Answer 24

lie

measure word for series / row of things

Also used for trains

i.e. 一列火车

Question 25

斤

Answer 25

jin

0.5 kg

Question 26

公斤

Answer 26

gongjin

1 kg

Question 27

厘米

Answer 27

limi

1 cm

Question 28

米

Answer 28

mi

1 metre

Question 29

里

Answer 29

li

0.5 km

Question 30

公里

Answer 30

gongli

1 km

Question 31

升

Answer 31

sheng

1 litre

Question 32

斗

Answer 32

dou

10 litres