Classifiers (1) – 量词 (1)

Classifiers (1) – 量词 (1)

个 (gè)

“个” is a general classifier, which is used to count nouns.

e.g.

一个朋友 (yī gè péngyǒu) a friend

一个星期 (yī gè xīng qī) a week

本 (běn)

“本” is the classifier for books, periodicals, files.

e.g.

一本书 (yī běn shū) a book

一本杂志 (yī běn zázhì) a magazine

口 (kǒu)

“口” is the classifier for family members.

e.g.

一家五口人 (yījiā wǔ kǒu rén) A family of 5 persons

“口” is the classifier for bites or mouthfuls.

e.g.

我可以吃一口饭吗？(Wǒ kěyǐ chī yīkǒu fàn ma?) Can I have a bite of rice?

杯 (bēi)

“杯” as a classifier is used for “cup or glass of something”.

e.g.

我要一杯啤酒。(Wǒ yào yībēi píjiǔ.) I want a glass of beer.

这杯咖啡是我的。(Zhè bēi kāfēi shì wǒ de.) This cup of coffee is mine.

家 (jiā)

“家” as a classifier is used for “family” or “firms”.

e.g.

这栋楼有三家人去年搬走了。(Zhè dòng lóu yǒusān jiā rén qùnián bān zǒu le.) Three families moved out of this building last year.

我有两家小公司。（Wǒ yǒu liǎng jiā xiǎo gōngsī.）I have two small companies.

间 (jiān)

“间” as a classifier is used for “rooms” or “spaces”.

e.g.

这间屋子是我的，那间是我朋友的。(Zhè jiān wūzi shì wǒ de, nà jiān shì wǒ péngyǒu de.) This room belongs to me, and that one belongs to my friend.

块 (kuài)

“块” as a classifier could be used for “money”, meaning “kuai” “yuan” “dollar”.

e.g.

你要几块钱？(Nǐ yào jǐ kuài qián?) How much money do you want?

可以给我十块钱吗？(Kěyǐ gěi wǒ shí kuài qián ma?) Can you give me ten yuan?

“块” as a classifier could be used to measure a lump, a piece with or without a regular shape.

e.g.

一块手表 (yīkuài shǒubiǎo) a watch

一块巧克力 （yīkuài qiǎokèlì）a chocolate

页 (yè)

“页” indicates “page or sheet of books or papers” as a classifier.

e.g.

请打开汉语书第三页。(Qǐng dǎkāi hànyǔ shū dì sān yè.) Please open the third page of the Chinese book.

这本书有八十页。 (Zhè běn shū yǒu bāshí yè.) This book has eighty pages.