Measure Words

Question 1

This is the measure word for what?

What are measure words?

Answer 1

Measure words are words used to count or specify nouns. In English, we say things such as “three ears of corn” or “a pair of jeans”. The words in bold are measure words. In Chinese, measure words precede every noun. This means, unlike in English, every noun in Chinese must correspond with a measure word.

Question 2

This is the measure word for what?

个
gè

Answer 2

Individual things, people, or general classifier

一个人
yī gè rén
a person

三个星期
sān gè xīng qí
three weeks

Question 3

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 问题
yī __ wèn tí
a problem

Answer 3

一个问题
yī gè wèn tí
a problem

Remember: gè is used for things, people, and as a general classifier.

Question 4

This is the measure word for what?

只
zhī

Answer 4

1. One of a pair
   一只手
   yī zhī shǒu
   a hand
2. Animals
   一只猫
   yī zhī māo
   a cat

Question 5

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 手套
yī __ shǒu tào
a glove

Answer 5

一只手套
yī **zhī **shǒu tào
a glove

Remember: zhī is used for objects that are one of a pair.

Question 6

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 鸡
yī __ jī
a chicken

Answer 6

一只鸡
yī zhī jī
a chicken

Remember: zhī is used for animals.

Question 7

This is the measure word for what?

本
běn

Answer 7

Bound print matter (books, periodicals, files, etc.)

一本书
yī běn shū
a book

Question 8

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 杂志
yī __ zá zhì
a magazine

Answer 8

一本杂志
yī běn zá zhì
a magazine

Remember: běn is used for bound print matter, such as books.

Question 9

This is the measure word for what?

张
zhāng

Answer 9

Flat objects, “sheet”

一张纸
yī zhāng zhǐ
a sheet of paper

一张桌子
yī zhāng zhuō zi
a table

Question 10

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

两 ? 纸
liǎng __ zhǐ
two sheets of paper

Answer 10

两张纸
liǎng zhāng zhǐ
two sheets of paper

Remember: zhāng is used for flat objects.

Question 11

This is the measure word for what?

瓶
píng

Answer 11

Drinks, “bottle”

一瓶水
yī píng shuǐ
a bottle of water

Question 12

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 汽水
yī __ qì shuǐ
a bottle of soda

Answer 12

一瓶汽水
yī píng qì shuǐ
a bottle of soda

Remember: píng is used for bottled drinks.

Question 13

This is the measure word for what?

支
zhī

Answer 13

Stick-like objects

一支笔
yī zhī bǐ
a pen

一支吸管
yī zhī xī guǎn
a straw

Question 14

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

九 ? 笔
jiǔ __ bǐ
nine pens

Answer 14

九支笔
jiǔ zhī bǐ
nine pens

Remember: zhī is used for stick-like objects.

Question 15

This is the measure word for what?

杯
bēi

Answer 15

Drinks, “cup”

一杯茶
yī bēi chá
a cup of tea

Question 16

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 咖啡
yī __ kā fēi
a cup of coffee

Answer 16

一杯咖啡
yī bēi kā fēi
a cup of coffee

Remember: bēi is used for drinks in cups.

Question 17

This is the measure word for what?

块
kuài

Answer 17

Irregularly shaped ojects: land, stone, tofu, meat, etc.; “piece”, “chunk”

一块豆腐
yī kuài dòu fu
a chunk of tofu

一块肉
yī kuài ròu
a piece of meat

Question 18

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 土地
yī __ tǔ dì
a piece of land

Answer 18

一块土地
yī kuài tǔ dì
a piece of land

Remember: kuài is used for irregularly shaped objects.

Question 19

This is the measure word for what?

门
mén

Answer 19

Academic-related objects (courses, majors, subjects, etc.)

一门课
yī mén kè
a course

Question 20

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

三 ? 课
sān __ kè
three classes

Answer 20

三门课
sān mén kè
three classes

Remember: mén is used for academic-related objects, such as classes or majors.

Question 21

This is the measure word for what?

片
piàn

Answer 21

1. Thin, flat objects or irregularly shaped objects
   一片信用卡
   yī piàn xìn yòng kǎ
   a credit card
2. “Slice”
   一片面包
   yī piàn miàn bāo
   a slice of bread

Question 22

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 信用卡
yī __ xìn yòng kǎ
a credit card

Answer 22

一片信用卡
yī piàn xìn yòng kǎ
a credit card

Remember: piàn is used for thin, flat objects, or irregularly shaped objects.

Question 23

Fill in the blank with the proper measure word:

一 ? 奶酪
yī __ nǎi lào
a slice of cheese

Answer 23

一片奶酪
yī piàn nǎi lào
a slice of cheese

Remember: piàn is a measure word that can mean “slice”.

Question 24

This is the measure word for what?

件
jiàn

Answer 24

1. Matters (affairs)
   一件事情
   yī jiàn shì qíng
   a matter (affair)
2. Clothing
   一件衬衫
   yī jiàn chèn shān
   a shirt

Question 25

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 事情 yī __ shì qíng *a matter (affair)*

Answer 25

一**件**事情 yī **jiàn** shì qíng *a matter (affair)* ## Footnote Remember: *jiàn* is used for matters (affairs).

Question 26

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一** **_?_** **大衣 yī __ dà yī *a coat*

Answer 26

一**件**大衣 yī **jiàn** dà yī *a coat* ## Footnote Remember: *jiàn* is used for clothing.

Question 27

# This is the measure word for what? 条 tiáo

Answer 27

1. Long, narrow, flexible objects 一**条**狗 yī **tiáo** gǒu *a dog* 2. Roads 一**条**路 yī **tiáo** lù *a road*

Question 28

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 狗 yī __ gǒu *a dog*

Answer 28

一**条**狗 yī **tiáo** gǒu *a dog* ## Footnote Remember: *tiáo *is used for long, narrow, flexible objects. In this case, "dog" and "fish" are exceptions to the 只 classifier for animals.

Question 29

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 路 yī __ lù *a road*

Answer 29

一**条**路 yī **tiáo** lù *a road* ## Footnote Remember: *tiáo* is used for roads.

Question 30

# This is the measure word for what? 把 bǎ

Answer 30

Objects that can be held, usually long and flat objects (e.g. knives, scissors, keys, etc.) 一**把**钥匙 yī **bǎ** yào shi *a key*

Question 31

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 两 _?_ 刀 liǎng \_\_ dāo *two knives*

Answer 31

两**把**刀 liǎng **bǎ** dāo *two knives* ## Footnote Remember: *bǎ* is used for objects that can be held, such as knives.

Question 32

# This is the measure word for what? 台 tái

Answer 32

Heavy objects, especially machines 一**台**电视 yī **tái** diàn shì *a TV*

Question 33

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一** **_?_** **电脑 yī __ diàn nǎo *a computer*

Answer 33

一**台**电视 yī **tái** diàn nǎo *a computer* ## Footnote Remember: *tái* is used for heavy objects, particularly machines.

Question 34

# This is the measure word for what? 篇 piān

Answer 34

Written work, such as essays or articles. 一**篇**文章 yī **piān** wén zhāng *an essay, an article*

Question 35

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 论文 yī __ lùn wén *a paper, a thesis*

Answer 35

一**篇**论文 yī **piān** lùn wén *a paper, a thesis* ## Footnote Remember: *piān* is used for written work, such as essays or articles.

Question 36

# This is the measure word for what? 包 bāo

Answer 36

Items in bags or packages; bundle ## Footnote 一**包**香烟 yī **bāo** xiāng yān *a packet of cigarettes* 一**包**饼干 yī **bāo** bǐng gān *a packet of cookies*

Question 37

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 饼干 yī __ bǐng gān *a packet of cookies*

Answer 37

一**包**并刚 yī **bāo** bǐng gān *a packet of cookies* ## Footnote Remember: *bāo* means "package" or "bundle".

Question 38

# This is the measure word for what? 层 céng

Answer 38

Story, layer ## Footnote 八**层**楼 bā **céng** lóu *eight stories (of a building)* 三**层**蛋糕 sān **céng** dàn gāo *three-layer cake*

Question 39

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 五 _?_ 楼 wǔ __ lóu *five stories (of a building)*

Answer 39

五**层**楼 wǔ **céng** lóu *five stories (of a building)* ## Footnote Remember: *céng* means "story" or "layer".

Question 40

# This is the measure word for what? 辆 liàng

Answer 40

Wheeled vehicles, such as cars or bicycles 五**辆**自行车 wǔ **liàng** zì xíng chē *five bicycles*

Question 41

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 车 yī __ chē *a car*

Answer 41

一**辆**车 yī **liàng** chē *a car* ## Footnote Remember: *liàng* is used with wheeled vehicles.

Question 42

# This is the measure word for what? 朵 duo

Answer 42

Flowers, clouds ## Footnote 一**朵**花 yī **duo** huā *a flower* 一**朵**云 yī **duo** yún *a cloud*

Question 43

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 四 _?_ 花 sì __ huā *four flowers*

Answer 43

四**朵**花 sì **duo** huā *four flowers* ## Footnote Remember: *duo* is used for flowers and clouds.

Question 44

# This is the measure word for what? 根 gēn

Answer 44

Thin, slender objects; string ## Footnote 一**根**线 yī **gēn** xiàn *a thread / wire* 一**根**针 yī **gēn** zhēn *a needle*

Question 45

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 针 yī __ zhēn *a needle*

Answer 45

一**根**针 yī **gēn** zhēn *a needle* ## Footnote Remember: *gēn* is used for thin, slender objects, as well as string.

Question 46

# This is the measure word for what? 群 qún

Answer 46

Groups of people or animals ## Footnote 一**群**人 yī **qún** rén *a crowd / group of people* 一**群**鱼 yī **qún** yú *a school of fish*

Question 47

# Fill in the blank with the proper measure word: 一 _?_ 鹅 yī __ é *a flock of geese*

Answer 47

一**群**鹅 yī **qún** é *a flock of geese* ## Footnote Remember: *qún* is used for groups of people or animals.