Chinese measure word
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In the Chinese language, measure words or classifiers (Template:Zh-tsp; Cantonese (Yale): leung4 chi4) are used along with numerals to define the quantity of a given object or objects, or with "this"/"that" to identify specific objects.
In Chinese, simple numerals cannot quantify a noun by itself; instead, the language relies on what are known as measure words or, to a lesser extent, classifiers. There are two types of such classifiers, nominal and verbal, with the latter being used in quantifying verbs and the amount of time which they take precedence. English also has its share of classifiers, however, these are generally understood to be extraneous and ultimately construe the object in question to greater detail. As an example, in the English phrase "a stretch of sand", the word "stretch" is needed to disambiguate whether the sand is actually one grain or an entire beach's worth. Therefore, "stretch" serves to further specify the quantity of sand. We can also speak of "a bucketful of sand", "a grain of sand" or "a ton of sand".
It should be noted that the usage of measure words in Chinese is strictly mandatory, that is, they must be used so long as a quantifying numeral or a pronoun is present (a definite article like English "the" does not exist as such in Chinese). In contrast with the English language wherein "a flock of birds" is roughly equivalent to "some birds", in Chinese only "一群鳥" (一群鸟) is possible. Likewise, "a bird" should be translated into "一隻鳥" (一只鸟); it is as though we were forced to say "a specimen of a bird".
Usage also depends on personal preference and dialects. For example, some people use 三部車; (三部车) and others use 三台車 (三台车) to mean three cars. Still others use 三輛車 (三辆车) or in Cantonese 三架車 (三架车), with all of these measure words serving the same purpose.
Some measure words are true units, which all languages must have in order to measure things, e.g. kilometres. These are displayed first, then other nominal classifiers, and finally verbal classifiers.
The first column contains the traditional version of the classifier's character, the second contains the simplified version where it differs, the third contains the pronunciation given in Hanyu Pinyin, the fourth contains the pronunciation given in Cantonese romanization (Yale), and the fifth explains the word's principal uses. Quotation marks surround the literal meaning of the measure word.
Contents |
Nominal Classifiers
True units
Column key: Trad. is Traditional, Simp. shows changes made for the simplified variant (if any).
| Trad. | Simp. | Pinyin | Cantonese | Main uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | ||||
| 秒 | miǎo | miu5 | "second" | |
| 分 | fēn | fan1 | "minute" | |
| 刻 | kè | hak1 haak1 | "quarter","15 minutes" (mainly in some dialects, such as Shanghainese, and translations) | |
| 小時 | 小时 | xiǎoshí | siu2 si4 | "hour" |
| 鐘 | 钟 | zhōng | jung1 | "hour" (found in southern Chinese) |
| 時辰 | 时辰 | shíchén | si4 san4 | "2 hours" (ancient) |
| 天 | tiān | tin1 | "day" | |
| 日 | rì | yat6 | "day" | |
| 年 | nián | nin4 | "year" | |
| 載 | 载 | zǎi | joi2 joi3 | "year" |
| 世紀 | 世纪 | shìjì | sai3 gei2 | "century" |
| Weight/mass | ||||
| 克 | kè | hak1 haak1 | "gram" | |
| 斤 | jīn | gan1 | "catty", "pound", 1/2 kilograms | |
| 公斤 | gōngjīn | gung1 gan1 | "kilogram" | |
| 千克 | qiānkè | chin1 hak1/haak1 | "kilogram" | |
| 噸 | 吨 | dūn | deun1 | "ton" |
| Length/distance | ||||
| 公分 | gōngfēn | gung1 fan1 | "centimetre" | |
| 厘米 | límǐ | lei4 mai5 | "centimetre" (less common) | |
| 寸 | cùn | chyun3 | Chinese "inch" | |
| 吋 | cùn | chyun3 |
British inch | |
| 尺 | chǐ | che2/chek3 | Chinese "foot" | |
| 呎 | chǐ | chek3 | British foot | |
| 英尺 | yīngchǐ | ying1 chek3 | British foot | |
| 公尺 | gōngchǐ | gung1 chek3 | "metre" | |
| 米 | mǐ | mai5 | "metre" (technical) | |
| 里 | lǐ | lei5 | "lǐ", about 1/3 mile | |
| 哩 | lǐ | le1/lei5/li1 | British mile | |
| 英里 | yīnglǐ | ying1 lei5 | British mile | |
| 公里 | gōnglǐ | gung1 lei5 | "kilometre" | |
| 天文單位 | 天文单位 | tiānwéndānwèi | tin1 man4 daan1 wai2 | "astronomical unit" |
| 光年 | guāngnián | gwong1 nin4 | "light year" | |
| 秒差距 | miǎochājù | miu5 cha1 geui6 | "parsec | |
| Money | ||||
| 圓 | 元 | yuán | yun4 | "yuán", "¥" (main unit of currency) (either form can be used in Traditional Chinese text) |
| 塊 | 块 | kuài | faai3 | "yuán", "¥" (a slang term, like "quid" or "buck") |
| 角 | 交 | jiāo | gok3/luk6 | "jiāo", "dime", "tenpence" (either form can be used in Simplified Chinese text) |
| 毫 | 毛 | máo | hou4 | "jiāo", "dime", "tenpence" (slang) (either form can be used in Traditional Chinese text) |
| 分 | fēn | fan1/fan6 | "fēn", "cent", "penny" | |
More idiomatic
Column key: Trad. is Traditional, Simp. shows changes made for the simplified variant (if any).
| Trad. | Simp. | Pinyin | Cantonese | Main uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 把 | bǎ | ba2 | "handful" — objects that can be held (knives, keys; also chairs) | |
| 班 | bān | baan1 | scheduled services (trains, etc.), group of people, a class as in pupils | |
| 包 | bāo | bauu1 | "package", "bundle" | |
| 杯 | bēi | bui1 | "cup" — drinks | |
| 本 | běn | buun2 | "volume" — bound print matter (books, etc.) | |
| 筆 | 笔 | bǐ | bat7 | large quantities of money |
| 部 | bù | bo6 | novels, movies | |
| 册 | cè | chak8 | volumes of books | |
| 層 | 层 | céng | chang4 | "storey", "layer" — buildings, etc |
| 場 | 场 | chǎng | cheung4 | public spectacles, games |
| 床 | chuáng | chong4 | "bed" — blankets, sheets | |
| 次 | cì | chii3 | "time" — opportunities, accidents | |
| 袋 | dài | doi2 | sackfuls, pouchfuls, bagfuls, pocketfuls | |
| 道 | dào | dou6 | linear projections (light rays, etc.), orders given by an authoritative figure | |
| 滴 | dī | dik9 | "droplet" water, blood, and other such fluids | |
| 點 | 点 | diǎn | diim2 | ideas, suggestions, can also mean "a bit" |
| 頂 | 顶 | dǐng | dik9 | objects with protruding top (hats, etc.) |
| 棟 | 栋 | dòng | dung6 | lit. pillars, used for buildings |
| 堵 | 都 | dǔ | duo1 | walls and encompassing fixtures |
| 段 | duàn | duen6 | "adjoining length" — cables, roadways, etc. | |
| 對 | 对 | duì | deui3 | "couple" — people, "pair" (for certain things only) earrings, couplets, |
| 頓 | 顿 | dùn | dun6 | meals |
| 朵 | duǒ | do2 | flowers, clouds | |
| 份 | fèn | fan6 | portions | |
| 封 | fēng | fung1 | letters, mail | |
| 幅 | fú | fuk7 | works of art (paintings, etc.) | |
| 服 | fù | fuk9 | "dose" — (Chinese) medicine | |
| 副 | fù | fuu3 | objects which come in pairs (gloves, etc.) also for spectacles, a pack of cards, mahjong, | |
| 個 | 个 | ge (gè) | go3 | individual things, people — usage of this classifier in conjunction with any noun is generally accepted if the person does not know the proper classifier. |
| 根 | gēn | gan1 | thin, slender objects (needles, pillars, etc.) | |
| 股 | gǔ | guu2 | flows (of air, influence).... | |
| 行 | háng | hong4 | objects which form lines (words, etc.) | |
| 盒 | hé | hap2 | "small box" — e.g. tape | |
| 户 | hù | wuu6 | households | |
| 伙 | huǒ | fo2 | generally derogatory classifier for bands of people such as gangs or hoodlums | |
| 家 | jiā | gaa1 | gathering of people (families, companies, etc.) | |
| 架 | jià | gaa3 | aircraft, pianos, machines | |
| 間 | 间 | jiān | gaan1 | rooms |
| 件 | jiàn | giin6 | matters, clothing, etc. | |
| 節 | 节 | jié | jiit8 | "section" — of bamboo, etc. |
| 屆 | 届 | jiè | gaai3 | regularly scheduled sessions or meetings |
| 句 | jù | geui3 | lines, sentences, etc. | |
| 棵 | kē | po1 | trees and other such flora | |
| 顆 | 颗 | kē | fo2 | small objects (hearts, pearls, teeth, diamonds etc.) and also objects appearing to be small (distant stars and planets) |
| 口 | kǒu | hau2 | people in villages, family members, wells | |
| 塊 | 块 | kuài | faai3 | "chunk", "lump", "piece" — land, stones, etc.; cake, bread (not slices) |
| 類 | 类 | lèi | leui6 | objects of the same type or nature |
| 粒 | lì | lap7 | "grain" | |
| 輛 | 辆 | liàng | leung2 | automobiles, bicycles, etc. |
| 列 | liè | lit9 | trains | |
| 枚 | méi | mui4 | medals, small flat things like stamps, banana peels, also for rings | |
| 門 | 门 | mén | muun4 | objects pertaining to academics (courses, majors, etc.) |
| 面 | miàn | miin6 | flat and smooth objects (mirrors, flags, etc.) | |
| 名 | míng | ming4 | high-ranking persons (doctors, lawyers, politicians, royalty, etc.) | |
| 排 | pái | paai4 | objects grouped in rows (chairs, etc) | |
| 盤 | 盘 | pán | puun4 | flat objects (video cassettes, etc.) |
| 批 | pī | pai1 | people, goods, etc. | |
| 匹 | pǐ | pat7 | horses and other mounts, rolls/bolts of cloth | |
| 篇 | piān | piin1 | papers, articles, etc. | |
| 片 | piàn | piin3 | "slice" — flat objects, cards, slices of bread, etc. | |
| 瓶 | píng | ping4 | "bottle" — drinks | |
| 期 | qī | kei4 | magazines | |
| 群 | qún | kwan4 | "group", "herd" | |
| 扇 | shàn | siin3 | doors, windows. | |
| 首 | shǒu | sau2 | songs, poems, music, etc. | |
| 束 | shù | chuk7 | bunches | |
| 雙 | 双 | shuāng | seung1 | objects which come in pairs |
| 艘 | sōu | sau2 | ships | |
| 所 | suǒ | so2 | buildings | |
| 台 | tái | toi4 | heavy objects (TVs, computers, etc.) and performances (theatre, etc.) | |
| 堂 | táng | tong4 | periods of classes, suites of furniture | |
| 趟 | tàng | tong3 | scheduled transportation services | |
| 套 | tào | to3 | "set" — books, magazines, collectibles, clothes, | |
| 題 | 题 | tí | tai4 | classifier for questions |
| 條 | 条 | tiáo | tiu4 | long and narrow objects (fish, trousers, etc.) |
| 頭 | 头 | tóu | tau4 | "head" — certain animals (pigs, cows, etc.), hair |
| 團 | 团 | tuán | tuen4 | "ball" — rotund and wound objects (balls of yarn, etc.) |
| 位 | wèi | wai2 | polite classifier for people | |
| 項 | 项 | xiàng | hong6 | projects |
| 樣 | 样 | yàng | yeung6 | general items of differing attributes |
| 扎 | zhā | jat8 | "jar", "jug" — drinks such as beer, soda, juice, etc. (A recent loan-word from English, it may be considered informal or slang.) | |
| 盞 | 盏 | zhǎn | jaan2 | light fixtures (usually lamps), pot of tea etc. |
| 張 | 张 | zhāng | jeung1 | "sheet" — flat objects (paper, tables, etc.), faces, bows, paintings, tickets, constellations |
| 陣 | 阵 | zhèn | jan6 | "gust", "burst" — events with short durations (lightning storms, gusts of wind) |
| 支 | zhī | ji1 | stick-like objects (pens, chopsticks, etc.) | |
| 隻 | 只 | zhī | jek8 | one of a pair, animals (birds, cats, etc.) |
| 枝 | zhī | ji1 | alternative form of 支,"stalk" can be used for rifles and roses. | |
| 種 | 种 | zhǒng | jung2 | types or kinds of objects |
| 組 | 组 | zǔ | jo2 | sets, rows, series, batteries |
| 座 | zuò | jo6 | large structures or mountains |
Verbal Classifiers
Column key: Trad. is Traditional, Simp. shows changes made for the simplified variant (if any).
| Trad. | Simp. | Pinyin | Cantonese | Main uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 遍 | biàn | bin3 pin3 | the number of times an action has been completed | |
| 場 | 场 | chǎng | cheung4 | a length of an event taking place within another event |
| 次 | cì | chi3 | times (unlike 遍, 次 refers to the number of times regardless of whether or not it was completed) | |
| 頓 | 顿 | dùn | deun6 | actions without repetition |
| 回 | huí | wui4 | occurrences (used colloquially) | |
| 聲 | 声 | shēng | seng1/sing1 | cries, shouts, etc. |
| 趟 | tàng | tong3 | trips, visitations, etc. | |
| 下 | xià | ha5/ha6 | brief and often sudden actions |
Informal Classifiers
In modern colloquial speech of certain Chinese dialects, 倆 (liǎ) is sometimes used in lieu of 兩個 (liǎng ge), thereby assuming the identity of a measure word meaning "two of (such and such)". The same holds true for 仨 (sā), three (items of a general nature).
Examples
- Colour-coding
- measure words are in green and nouns are in purple.
- 去年我騎了一匹馬。
- Last year, I rode a horse.
- 這臺電視看了一次就壞了。
- This television set broke after one viewing.
- 我訂了這兩班車。
- I've reserved (tickets for) these two buses.
- 下完這陣雨我才會爬那座山。
- Only after this rain passes will I climb that mountain.
- 一根頭髮。
- A hair, a strand of hair.
- 五分(鐘)。
- Five minutes(' time)
- 十天(時間)。
- Ten days(' time)
- 一百頭牛。
- A hundred oxen, a hundred head of cattle.
- 一個蘋果。
- An apple
- 一斤蘋果。
- A pound of apples.
- 一些蘋果。
- Some apples, a group of apples.
See also
Special characters
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