Classifiers/measure words (English - Mandarin) Flashcards
“volume”
Proper classifier
-used for bound print matter (books 書/书, etc.)
本
běn
“time”
Proper classifier
- used for opportunities 機會/机会
- used for accidents 事故
Verbal classifier
- . used for times
* 次 refers to the number of times regardless of whether or not it was completed
次
cì
Proper classifier
- used for linear projections (light rays 亮光, etc.)
- used for orders given by an authority figure 命令
- used for courses (of food) 點心/点心
- used for walls and doors 門/门
- used for questions 題/题
- used for number of times (for certain procedures) 工序
道
dào
Proper classifier
- used for individual things
- used for people
*generic measure word (usage of this classifier in conjunction with any noun is generally accepted if the person does not know the proper classifier)
个
ge (gè)
Proper classifier
- used for more than 100 people, workmen (一百多号人/一百多號人)
- used for business deals, transaction numbers (几号买卖/幾號買賣)
号
hào
Proper classifier
- used for gathering of people (families 人家, companies 公司, etc.)
- used for establishments (shops 商店, restaurants 酒店, hotels 飯店/饭店)
家
jiā
Proper classifier
- used for rooms 屋子, 房
间
jiān
Proper classifier
- used for people in villages 人, family members
- used for wells 井
- used for blade 刀
Measure word/massifier
- “mouthful”
- used for amount of food
口
kǒu
Proper classifier
- used for wheeled vehicles: automobiles 汽車/汽车, bicycles 自行車/自行车, etc.
辆
liàng
Proper classifier
- used as an honorific, or persons with perceived higher social rank (doctors 醫生/医生, lawyers 律師/律师, politicians, royalty, etc.)
- used in formal occasions
- used in literary Chinese
- used for any type of person (not necessarily high-ranking, e.g. mother 母親)
名
míng
“slice”
Proper classifier
- used for flat objects
- used for cards
- used for slices of bread 麵包/面包
- etc.
片
piàn
Proper classifier
- used for case, instance (两起大脑炎)
- used for batch, group (分两起出发)
起
qǐ
Proper classifier
- used for washings/rinsings (这件衬衫洗了三水了)
水
shuǐ
Proper classification
- used for test/exam questions
题
tí
“kind, sort”
Proper classifier
- used for general items of differing attributes
样
yàng
Proper classifier
- used for one of a pair (hands 手, legs)
- used for animals (birds 鳥/鸟, cats 貓/猫, etc.)
只
zhī
Proper classifier
- used for fairly long, stick-like objects (pens 筆/笔, chopsticks, roses, rifles 槍/枪, etc.), fleets 舰队/艦隊
支
zhī
Measure word/massifier
- used for scheduled transport services (trains 火車/火车, bus 公交, subway 地鐵/地铁, etc.)
- used for a group of people
- used for a class as in pupils 學生/学生
班
bān
“gang”
Measure word/massifier
- used for a group of people (children 孩子, friends 朋友, etc.);
- used for a band of (bandits 匪徒, bad men 壞蛋/坏蛋, etc.)
帮
bāng
Measure word/massifier
- used for large quantities of money (money 錢/钱, funds 資金/资金, account items 賬目/账目)
笔
bǐ
Measure word/massifier
- used for ideas 意見/意见, suggestions
- can also mean “a bit” (often used to denote amount) — e.g. courage 膽量/胆量
点
diǎn
“pair”
Measure word/massifier
- used for “couple” 夫妻
- used for “partner” 搭檔/搭档
- used for ring 戒指
- used for earrings 耳環/耳环
- used for bracelet 手鐲/手镯
对
duì
Measure word/massifier
1a. used for objects which form lines (words 詞/词, etc.)
1b. used for occupations in a field (idiom, spoken language)
2. used for groups of people traveling together, such as a trade commission or diplomats and aides visiting a foreign country: “国王一行人离开巴黎后十分兴奋” (having left Paris, the king and entourage were very excited).
* Note: almost only used in the form 一行人.
行
- háng
- xíng
“chunk”, “lump”, “piece”, “yuan”
Measure word/massifier
- used for land 地
- used for stones 石頭/石头
- used for cake 蛋糕 (piece/slice)
- used for bread (not slices) 麵包/面包
- used for candy 糖
- used for tofu 豆腐, etc.
Measurement units
- “block”
- yuán (a slang term, like “quid” or “buck”)
*Must add 钱 after it
块
kuài
