20 measure words (量词) I wish I learned sooner
I've started reading more in Chinese, so I've picked up some new (to me) measure words in the process. I feel like it's easy to become complacent and not learn new measure words. But actually, I've grown to appreciate their specificity and expressiveness.
Here are 20 measure words I wish I had learned sooner. I've also included examples, all of which I've actually encountered IRL.
(1) 架 jià - classifier for planes, large vehicles, radios etc
一架飞机 yí jià fēijī - an airplane
(2) 扇 shàn - classifier for doors, windows etc
一扇门 yí shàn mén - a door
一扇窗 yí shàn chuāng - a window
(3) 丝 | 絲 sī - classifier for a thread (of cloud, smoke etc), a bit, an iota, a hint (of sth) etc
一丝希望 yì sī xīwàng - a shred or glimmer of hope
(4) 枚 méi - classifier for coins, rings, badges, pearls, sporting medals, rockets, satellites etc
一枚弹壳 yì méi dànké - a shell casing
一枚金牌 yì méi jīnpái - a gold medal
(5) 粒 lì - classifier for small round things (peas, bullets, peanuts, pills, grains etc)
一粒沙 yí lì shā - a grain of sand
一粒米 yí lì mǐ - a grain of rice
(6) 阵 | 陣 zhèn - classifier for events or states of short duration
一阵掌声 yí zhèn zhǎngshēng - a burst of applause
一阵风 yí zhèn fēng - a burst of wind
一阵雨 yí zhèn yǔ - a burst of rain
(7) 幅 fú - classifier for textiles or pictures
一幅画 yì fú huà - a painting
(8) 通 tōng - classifier for letters, telegrams, phone calls etc
一通电话 yì tōng diànhuà - a phone call
(9) 副 fù - classifier for pairs, sets of things & facial expressions
一副开心的样子 yí fù kāixīn de yàngzi - a happy look or expression
一副眼镜 yí fù yǎnjìng - a pair of glasses
(10) 艘 sōu - classifier for ships (Taiwan pr. sāo)
一艘船 yì sōu chuán - a boat
(11) 股 gǔ - classifier for smoke, smells etc (thread, puff, whiff) / classifier for sudden forceful actions
一股劲儿 yì gǔ jìnr - a burst of energy
一股臭味 yì gǔ chòuwèi - a whiff of a bad odor
(12) 名 míng - classifier for people
一名演员 yì míng yǎnyuán - an actor
一名歌手 yì míng gēshǒu - a singer
(13) 盏 | 盞 zhǎn - classifier for lamps
一盏灯 yì zhǎn dēng - a lamp
(14) 缕 | 縷 lǚ - classifier for wisps (of smoke, mist or vapor), strands, locks (of hair)
一缕头发 yì lǚ tóufa - a strand of hair
(15) 根 gēn - classifier for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings
一根烟 yì gēn yān - a cigarette
一根葱 yì gēn cōng - a scallion
(16) 对 | 對 duì - classifier for a couple or a pair
一对夫妻 yí duì fūqī - a pair of husband and wife
一对夫妇 yí duì fūfù - a pair of husband and wife
(17) 份 fèn - classifier for gifts, newspaper, magazine, papers, reports, contracts etc
一份报告 yí fèn bàogào - a report
一份工作 yí fèn gōngzuò - a job
(18) 级 | 級 jí - classifier for steps, levels
一级台阶 yì jí táijiē - a step or stair
(19) 道 dào - classifier for long thin things (rivers, cracks etc), barriers (walls, doors etc), questions (in an exam etc)
一道墙 yí dào qiáng - a wall
一道门 yí dào mén - a door
一道题 yí dào tí - a question or exercise
一道河 yí dào hé - a river
一道缝隙 yí dào fèngxì - a crack
(20) 支 zhī - classifier for army divisions and for songs or compositions
一支队伍 yì zhī duìwǔ - a team
一支乐曲 yì zhī yuèqǔ - a musical composition
Definitions are adapted from MDBG.
See similar posts:
"Bare" measure words (classifiers without demonstratives and numerals)
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