1. Top 10 Noun Measure Words
个
gè
General measure word for people, common objects, and abstract concepts.
一个人
yí gè rén
one person
一个苹果
yí gè píngguǒ
an apple
一个想法
yí gè xiǎngfǎ
an idea
一个问题
yí gè wèntí
a question
位
wèi
Respectful measure word used for people.
一位老师
yí wèi lǎoshī
a teacher
一位客人
yí wèi kèrén
a guest
一位领导
yí wèi lǐngdǎo
a leader
名
míng
Formal measure word for people with specific identities or professions.
一名学生
yì míng xuésheng
a student
一名医生
yì míng yīshēng
a doctor
一名代表
yì míng dàibiǎo
a representative
只
zhī
Measure word for animals, one of a pair, certain containers, or boats.
一只猫
yì zhī māo
a cat
一只手
yì zhī shǒu
a hand (one of a pair)
一只箱子
yì zhī xiāngzi
a chest or trunk
一只船
yì zhī chuán
a boat
条
tiáo
Measure word for long, thin, flexible items or abstract concepts like news.
一条路
yì tiáo lù
a road
一条裤子
yì tiáo kùzi
a pair of pants
一条新闻
yì tiáo xīnwén
a piece of news
我跟你一条心
wǒ gēn nǐ yì tiáo xīn
I am of one heart with you
(I(wǒ) + with(gēn) + you(nǐ) + one(yì) + measure(tiáo) + heart(xīn))
张
zhāng
Measure word for flat objects, furniture, or things that can be opened/extended.
一张纸
yì zhāng zhǐ
a piece of paper
一张票
yì zhāng piào
a ticket
一张桌子
yì zhāng zhuōzi
a table
一张嘴
yì zhāng zuǐ
a mouth
本
běn
Measure word for books and other bound printed materials.
一本书
yì běn shū
a book
一本小说
yì běn xiǎoshuō
a novel
一本笔记本
yì běn bǐjìběn
a notebook
件
jiàn
Measure word for matters, clothing, luggage, or gifts.
一件事情
yí jiàn shìqing
one matter
一件衣服
yí jiàn yīfu
a piece of clothing
一件行李
yí jiàn xíngli
a piece of luggage
一件礼物
yí jiàn lǐwù
a gift
把
bǎ
Measure word for handled objects, handfuls, or specific abstract states.
一把椅子
yì bǎ yǐzi
a chair
一把米
yì bǎ mǐ
a handful of rice
他一把年纪了还要去工作。
tā yì bǎ niánjì le hái yào qù gōngzuò.
He is still going to work even at his age.
(He(tā) + one(yì) + measure(bǎ) + age(niánjì) + particle(le) + still(hái) + want(yào) + go(qù) + work(gōngzuò))
他拼尽了最后一把力气。
tā pīnjìn le zuìhòu yì bǎ lìqi.
He exhausted his last bit of strength.
(He(tā) + exhaust(pīnjìn) + particle(le) + last(zuìhòu) + one(yì) + measure(bǎ) + strength(lìqi))
辆
liàng
Measure word for vehicles with wheels.
一辆汽车
yí liàng qìchē
a car
一辆自行车
yí liàng zìxíngchē
a bicycle
一辆坦克
yí liàng tǎnkè
a tank
