Measure word (classifier) 量詞 (量词)

liàngcí · from English

What is a measure word in Chinese?

A measure word or classifier is a word required between a number and a noun, chosen by the noun's shape or category, as in Mandarin 一本書.

Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Malay all use classifiers. Mandarin 個 (个) gè is the all-purpose default, but natives use specific ones: 本 běn for books, 隻 zhī for many animals, 張 zhāng for flat things. Japanese calls them josūshi and Korean 단위 명사.

Examples

一本書 yì běn shū (a book); 三隻貓 sān zhī māo (three cats); 一枚 ichimai (one flat thing); 사과 두 개 sagwa du gae (two apples); Thai แมวสามตัว maeo sǎam tua (three cats); Malay seekor kucing (a cat)

Kungfucius says: When in doubt, use 個. When certain, still use 個. Then learn the right one.