Measure Words · Core Noun Measure Words
Top 12 Core Measure Words
核心名量词
Learn the most useful Chinese measure words by logic: general words, shape-based words, container words, and special object types.
Note: When we say “two” before a measure word in Chinese, we usually use 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr).
For example: 两个人 (liǎng ge rén — two people), 两本书 (liǎng běn shū — two books), 两杯咖啡 (liǎng bēi kāfēi — two cups of coffee).
Practice with Flashcards
Review the Top 12 Core Measure Words with Quizlet flashcards.
Measure Word Logic
Do not memorize measure words randomly. Start with the logic behind each word.
个general / default measure word
件clothes, matters, luggage, individual items
条long or flexible things
张flat things or furniture with a broad surface
本books and bound printed materials
块pieces, chunks, money, watches
杯cup/glass amount
瓶bottle amount
把handled tools or a handful
只animals, small objects, one item from a pair
双paired objects
辆vehicles
1General & Common
个
General measure word for people, objects, and abstract ideas. In spoken Chinese, 个 is often pronounced in the neutral tone: ge.
一个人
one person
一个苹果
an apple
两个想法
two ideas
件
For clothing, matters, luggage, or individual items.
一件衣服
a piece of clothing
一件事
one matter / one thing
两件行李
two pieces of luggage
2Shape-Based Measure Words
条
For long or flexible things, animals, pants, roads, and messages.
一条鱼
a fish
一条路
a road
两条裤子
two pairs of pants
张
For flat things and furniture with a broad surface, such as paper, tables, beds, photos, and faces.
一张纸
a piece of paper
一张桌子
a table
两张脸
two faces
本
For books and bound printed materials.
一本书
a book
一本日记
a diary
两本护照
two passports
块
For pieces, chunks, flat items, money, and watches. 块 is also commonly used for 手表.
一块蛋糕
a piece of cake
一块手表
a watch
两块钱
two yuan / two kuai
3Container / Quantity
杯
For drinks or liquids served in a cup or glass.
一杯水
a glass of water
一杯咖啡
a cup of coffee
两杯牛奶
two glasses of milk
瓶
For bottled things.
一瓶水
a bottle of water
一瓶啤酒
a bottle of beer
两瓶酱油
two bottles of soy sauce
把
For handled tools or a handful of something.
一把刀
a knife
一把伞
an umbrella
两把米
two handfuls of rice
4Special Object Types
只
For animals, some small objects, or one item from a pair.
一只猫
a cat
一只耳朵
one ear
两只手套
two gloves
双
For paired objects.
一双鞋
a pair of shoes
一双筷子
a pair of chopsticks
两双袜子
two pairs of socks
辆
For vehicles.
一辆车
a car / a vehicle
一辆自行车
a bicycle
两辆公交车
two buses
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Wrong: 一个书 (yí ge shū) — 书 is a bound printed object, so 个 sounds unnatural here.
✅ Correct: 一本书 (yì běn shū) — a book.
❌ Wrong: 一个裤子 (yí ge kùzi) — 裤子 is long and flexible clothing, so 个 is not the best choice.
✅ Correct: 一条裤子 (yì tiáo kùzi) — a pair of pants.
❌ Wrong: 二个人 (èr ge rén) — Before a measure word, use 两, not 二.
✅ Correct: 两个人 (liǎng ge rén) — two people.
❌ Wrong: 一只车 (yì zhī chē) — 只 is not used for vehicles.
✅ Correct: 一辆车 (yí liàng chē) — a car / a vehicle.
Practice
Practice 1: Choose the right measure word
- 一 ___ 书
- 两 ___ 鞋
- 一 ___ 水
- 一 ___ 车
- 两 ___ 裤子
Show answers
1. 一本书
a book
2. 两双鞋
two pairs of shoes
3. 一杯水 / 一瓶水
a glass of water / a bottle of water
4. 一辆车
a car / a vehicle
5. 两条裤子
two pairs of pants
Practice 2: Correct the mistakes
- 一个书
- 二杯咖啡
- 一只车
- 一个裤子
- 两只鞋
Show answers
1. 一本书
a book
2. 两杯咖啡
two cups of coffee
3. 一辆车
a car / a vehicle
4. 一条裤子
a pair of pants
5. 一双鞋 / 两双鞋
a pair of shoes / two pairs of shoes
Practice 3: Translate into Chinese
- two cups of coffee
- a pair of shoes
- a bottle of water
- one matter / one thing
- two buses
Show answers
1. 两杯咖啡
two cups of coffee
2. 一双鞋
a pair of shoes
3. 一瓶水
a bottle of water
4. 一件事
one matter / one thing
5. 两辆公交车
two buses