Chinesimple: Measure Words

There are two books and two photos on the table. In English, you just swap ‘books’ for ‘photos’. What else changes when you say it in Chinese?

With Chinesimple, the app from Khanji School, you’ll learn to choose the word that goes between a number and the thing you’re counting in Mandarin Chinese. These words are called measure words, or classifiers. Listen to how they’re used with familiar objects, then try counting what’s in front of you. The explanations are in English.

TWO BOOKS. WHAT ABOUT TWO PHOTOS?

Listen to 两本书 (liǎng běn shū), ‘two books’. First you hear 两, ‘two’, and at the end you hear 书, ‘book’. In the middle is 本, the measure word for books. Listen for all three parts, then say the whole phrase aloud.

Now listen to 四张照片 (sì zhāng zhàopiàn), ‘four photos’. This time you hear 张 between the number and 照片 (‘photo’). You use 张 to count photos and other flat things, such as sheets of paper.

Imagine you put two of the four photos away. How would you say ‘two photos’? Keep 张照片 and change just the number. Try saying it before you read the answer: 两张照片. Now say ‘two books’ and ‘two photos’ in Chinese, one after the other. The number stays the same. Which word do you hear in the middle each time?

ARE YOU COUNTING CHOPSTICKS OR PAIRS?

Listen to 六双筷子 (liù shuāng kuàizi), ‘six pairs of chopsticks’. Here, 双 tells you that you’re counting pairs. If you put one pair at each place at the table, how many people can you set the table for? Six. That’s twelve chopsticks altogether.

Now set the table for three people. Which part of 六双筷子 do you need to change? Try saying it: 三双筷子, ‘three pairs of chopsticks’.

TRY IT WITH WHAT’S IN FRONT OF YOU

Pick up a book or a photo and look up its measure word in the Chinese dictionary. Listen to how it’s pronounced and save it for your next review. If you’re practising with someone, gather a few books and photos. One of you points to a group and the other says how many there are in Chinese. Then swap roles.

GET STARTED

Listen to ‘two books’ in Chinesimple. Then imagine you’ve got two photos instead. Can you say both phrases without looking at the text?