4.10: Lesson 3 Grammar - Measure Word 个 (ge)
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个 (gè) is the most commonly used measure word. It can be used in a pinch for any noun if you can't think of a more precise measure word. (Although you might not sound quite as smart, you'll still get your point across). Also, for many nouns, 个 (gè) is the only correct measure word.
Structure
The general structure for 个 (gè) and measure words in general is:
Number + 个 + Noun
Any time you want to state how many of a noun in Chinese, you probably need a measure word. First get used to how they are used with 个 (gè).
Examples
- 一个人
yī gè rén
one person
- 四个朋友
sì gè péngyou
four friends
- 三个苹果手机
sān gè Píngguǒ shǒujī
three iPhones (lit. “three Apple cellphones”)
- 五个星期
wǔ gè xīngqī
five weeks
- 六个月
liù gè yuè
six months
- 两个老婆
liǎng gè lǎopo
two wives
- 十个男人,七个傻,八个坏。
Shí gè nánrén, qī gè shǎ, bā gè huài.
Ten men: seven are fools, and eight are bad.
[Note: This is a a line from a song.]
Omitting the Number
Structure
Verb + 个 + Noun
If the number is one (1), you can omit it and use 个 (gè) by itself. This is similar to "a" or "an" in English, for example in "a person" or "an idiot." (The tone on 个 (gè) is normally somewhat de-emphasized in this usage, but still written as fourth tone. You don't need to stress about it, though.)
Examples
- 他是个老外。
Tā shì gè lǎowài.
He is a foreigner.
- 我有个儿子。
Wǒ yǒu gè érzi.
I have a son.
- 她是个好老师。
Tā shì gè hǎo lǎoshī.
She is a good teacher.
- 你想吃个包子吗?
Nǐ xiǎng chī gè bāozi ma?
Would you like to eat a stuffed steamed bun?
- 老师,我有个问题。
Lǎoshī, wǒ yǒu gè wèntí.
Teacher, I have a question.
[adapted from AllSet Learning Chinese Grammar Wiki, Creative Commons License BY-NC-SA 3.0]
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Any Questions?
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