Q: What are the most common measure words?

The most common measure words are 个， 张，本，杯， 条，只 and 辆. Some you will find on this page, but you can find many other more specific Chinese Measure Words here .

Question 1

What is a measure word?

Accepted Answer

The concept of measuring words actually exists in other languages! Like in English for certain nouns such as three glasses, or a bar of chocolate for example.

The only difference in Chinese is that all nouns must have a measure word before them.

Question 2

How to use a measure word in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

Measure words are always used (at least implicitly) with a number. The structure always looks like this:

Number + Measure Word + Noun

For example: 一个苹果.

Question 3

What are the most common measure words?

Accepted Answer

The most common measure words are 个，张，本，杯，条，只 and 辆. Some you will find on this page, but you can find many other more specific Chinese Measure Words here.

Question 4

I don't know what Measure Word to use?

Accepted Answer

If you don't know what measure word to use in a Chinese sentence, go with 个 gè. It's a very general keyword and people will still understand what you are trying to say.

Better use this one than none!

Question 5

How to say "measure word" in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

Measure Word in Chinese is 量词 liàng cí.

Question 6

Any other Chinese Grammar I should learn?

Accepted Answer

The Chinese Grammar is not as difficult as other people might think.

There are indeed some key grammar points to learn early in your studies, and the more you study more complicated they are, but this is the case in any other languages.

Some Chinese Grammar to look for in the early steps of your studies are the use of the three "de", the 是 sentence, and the 有 sentence.

Make sure to check out our Chinese Grammar Bank for more lessons like this (for all levels!).

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Chinese measure words	Number + Measure Word + Noun	我买了三个苹果。
How to write dates in Chinese	0000年 00月 00日	2024年 12月 25日
Saying "or" with 还是 or 或者	Option 1 + 还是 / 或者 + Option 2	你想喝咖啡还是喝茶？
The difference between 不 and 没	Subject + 不 / 没 + Verb	我不/没吃早饭。
Using 吧 to indicate suggestion	Suggestion + 吧	咱们去吃饭吧。
Using 呢 for “what about…?”	Answer + S + 呢 ?	我想喝咖啡，你呢？
Using 吗 to ask question	Statement + 吗？	你是老师吗？
Asking and telling the time	00 点 00 分	现在四点二十五分。
Using 在 to indicate location	S+ 在 + Location + V	弟弟在书店买书。
Using 怎么 to ask “how”	S+ 怎么 + Verb / Adj ？	你怎么去上班？
要 to Indicate “want / need / should”	S + 要 + Verb / Noun	我要学汉语。
The difference between 和 and 跟	S + 和 / 跟 + Person + V + O	我和朋友去玩。

HSK 1