Measure Words

Chinese nouns need a measure word (量词) when counted. Search by noun to find which one to use.

Try a noun to find its measure word — e.g. type 纸 to find 张

片piànmeasure word for slices and flat areas

森林used for forests/areas一片森林 (a forest)
叶子used for leaves一片叶子 (one leaf)
肉used for slices of meat一片肉 (a slice of meat)
云used for a stretch of clouds一片云 (a stretch of clouds)
面包used for slices of bread一片面包 (a slice of bread)

份fènmeasure word for portions and documents

工作used for jobs一份工作 (one job)
报纸used for newspapers一份报纸 (one newspaper)
礼物used for gifts一份礼物 (one gift)
文件used for documents一份文件 (one document)
报告used for reports一份报告 (one report)
快餐used for fast-food meals一份快餐 (one fast-food meal)
冰淇淋used for servings of ice cream一份冰淇淋 (one serving of ice cream)
披萨used for servings of pizza一份披萨 (one serving of pizza)

封fēngmeasure word for letters

信used for letters一封信 (one letter)
电子邮件used for emails一封电子邮件 (one email)

杯bēimeasure word for cups of drinks

水used for cups of water一杯水 (a cup of water)
咖啡used for cups of coffee一杯咖啡 (a cup of coffee)
茶used for cups of tea一杯茶 (a cup of tea)
牛奶used for cups of milk一杯牛奶 (a cup of milk)
酒used for cups of alcohol一杯酒 (a cup of wine)

瓶píngmeasure word for bottles

啤酒used for bottles of beer一瓶啤酒 (a bottle of beer)
水used for bottles of water一瓶水 (a bottle of water)
可乐used for bottles of cola一瓶可乐 (a bottle of cola)
药used for bottles of medicine一瓶药 (a bottle of medicine)

碗wǎnmeasure word for bowls

饭used for bowls of rice一碗饭 (a bowl of rice)
汤used for bowls of soup一碗汤 (a bowl of soup)
面used for bowls of noodles一碗面 (a bowl of noodles)
面条used for bowls of noodles一碗面条 (a bowl of noodles)

盘pánmeasure word for dishes/plates

菜used for dishes of food一盘菜 (a dish of food)
水果used for plates of fruit一盘水果 (a plate of fruit)
棋used for games of chess一盘棋 (a game of chess)

首shǒumeasure word for songs and poems

歌used for songs一首歌 (one song)
诗used for poems一首诗 (one poem)

篇piānmeasure word for articles and essays

论文used for papers/theses一篇论文 (one paper)
日记used for diary entries一篇日记 (a diary entry)
文章used for articles一篇文章 (one article)

句jùmeasure word for sentences

话used for sentences/words一句话 (one sentence)
诗used for lines of poetry一句诗 (a line of poetry)

次cìmeasure word for occurrences/times

旅行used for trips一次旅行 (one trip)
机会used for opportunities一次机会 (one chance)
会议used for meetings一次会议 (one meeting)
考试used for exams一次考试 (one exam)

遍biànmeasure word for complete actions

书used for reading through (from start to finish)看一遍书 (read through once)
电影used for watching all the way through看一遍电影 (watch a movie through)

场chǎngmeasure word for events and performances

电影used for movies一场电影 (one movie)
比赛used for matches/games一场比赛 (one match)
雨used for rain一场雨 (one rain)
演出used for performances/shows一场演出 (one performance)
音乐会used for concerts一场音乐会 (one concert)

顿dùnmeasure word for meals and scoldings

饭used for meals一顿饭 (one meal)
打used for beatings/scoldings一顿打 (a beating)

个gèthe most common generic measure word

人used for people一个人 (one person)
问题used for questions/problems一个问题 (one question)
小时used for hours一个小时 (one hour)
月used for months一个月 (one month)
故事used for stories一个故事 (one story)
苹果used for apples and small roundish objects一个苹果 (one apple)
星期used for weeks一个星期 (one week)
国家used for countries一个国家 (one country)
原因used for reasons一个原因 (one reason)
字used for characters/words一个字 (one character)
座位used for seats一个座位 (one seat)
汉堡used for hamburgers一个汉堡 (one hamburger)
披萨used for pizzas一个披萨 (one pizza)
橙子used for oranges一个橙子 (one orange)
衣柜used for wardrobes一个衣柜 (one wardrobe)
床头柜used for nightstands一个床头柜 (one nightstand)
茶几used for coffee tables一个茶几 (one coffee table)
储物柜used for storage cabinets一个储物柜 (one storage cabinet)

张zhāngmeasure word for flat objects

桌子used for tables/desks一张桌子 (one table)
票used for tickets一张票 (one ticket)
照片used for photos一张照片 (one photo)
纸used for sheets of paper一张纸 (one sheet of paper)
床used for beds一张床 (one bed)
地图used for maps一张地图 (one map)
脸used for faces一张脸 (one face)
信用卡used for cards一张信用卡 (one credit card)
画used for paintings一张画 (one painting)
床单used for bed sheets一张床单 (one bed sheet)

本běnmeasure word for books and bound volumes

书used for books一本书 (one book)
杂志used for magazines一本杂志 (one magazine)
护照used for passports一本护照 (one passport)
字典used for dictionaries一本字典 (one dictionary)
小说used for novels一本小说 (one novel)
笔记used for notebooks一本笔记 (one notebook)

只zhīmeasure word for certain animals and one of a pair

猫used for cats and small animals一只猫 (one cat)
鸟used for birds一只鸟 (one bird)
手used for hands (one of a pair)一只手 (one hand)
鞋used for shoes (one of a pair)一只鞋 (one shoe)
鸡used for chickens一只鸡 (one chicken)
狗used for dogs一只狗 (one dog)
眼睛used for eyes (one of a pair)一只眼睛 (one eye)
袜子used for socks (one of a pair)一只袜子 (one sock)
熊猫used for pandas一只熊猫 (one panda)
老虎used for tigers一只老虎 (one tiger)
猴子used for monkeys一只猴子 (one monkey)
老鼠used for mice一只老鼠 (one mouse)
乌龟used for turtles一只乌龟 (one turtle)
企鹅used for penguins一只企鹅 (one penguin)
螃蟹used for crabs一只螃蟹 (one crab)
袖口used for cuffs (one of a pair)一只袖口 (one cuff)
兔子used for rabbits一只兔子 (one rabbit)

条tiáomeasure word for long, thin objects

鱼used for fish一条鱼 (one fish)
路used for roads一条路 (one road)
裤子used for pants/trousers一条裤子 (a pair of pants)
消息used for news/messages一条消息 (a piece of news)
河used for rivers一条河 (one river)
蛇used for snakes一条蛇 (one snake)
腿used for legs一条腿 (one leg)
毛巾used for towels一条毛巾 (one towel)
裙子used for skirts一条裙子 (one skirt)
建议used for suggestions一条建议 (one suggestion)
长裤used for trousers一条长裤 (a pair of trousers)
腰带used for belts一条腰带 (one belt)

位wèipolite measure word for people

老师polite term for teachers一位老师 (one teacher)
客人polite term for guests一位客人 (one guest)
先生polite term for gentlemen一位先生 (one gentleman)
女士polite term for ladies一位女士 (one lady)
医生polite term for doctors一位医生 (one doctor)
朋友polite term for friends一位朋友 (one friend)

名míngmeasure word for people (formal)

学生used for students一名学生 (one student)
医生used for doctors一名医生 (one doctor)
运动员used for athletes一名运动员 (one athlete)
老师used for teachers (formal)一名老师 (one teacher)
警察used for police officers一名警察 (one police officer)

件jiànmeasure word for clothes, matters and items

衣服used for clothing一件衣服 (a piece of clothing)
事used for matters/things一件事 (one matter)
行李used for luggage items一件行李 (a piece of luggage)
衬衫used for shirts一件衬衫 (one shirt)
大衣used for coats一件大衣 (one coat)
商品used for goods/merchandise一件商品 (one item)
礼物used for gifts (items)一件礼物 (one gift)
泳衣used for swimsuits一件泳衣 (one swimsuit)
睡衣used for pajamas一件睡衣 (a pair of pajamas)
长裤used for trousers一件长裤 (a pair of trousers)

双shuāngmeasure word for pairs

鞋used for pairs of shoes一双鞋 (a pair of shoes)
眼睛used for eyes一双眼睛 (a pair of eyes)
筷子used for pairs of chopsticks一双筷子 (a pair of chopsticks)
手used for hands一双手 (a pair of hands)
袜子used for pairs of socks一双袜子 (a pair of socks)
手套used for pairs of gloves一双手套 (a pair of gloves)
鞋子used for pairs of shoes一双鞋子 (a pair of shoes)
运动鞋used for pairs of sneakers一双运动鞋 (a pair of sneakers)

头tóumeasure word for large animals

牛used for cows/cattle一头牛 (one cow)
猪used for pigs一头猪 (one pig)
羊used for sheep/goats一头羊 (one sheep)
大象used for elephants一头大象 (one elephant)
长颈鹿used for giraffes一头长颈鹿 (one giraffe)

匹pǐmeasure word for horses and cloth

马used for horses一匹马 (one horse)
布used for bolts of cloth一匹布 (a bolt of cloth)

对duìmeasure word for couples and pairs

夫妻used for married couples一对夫妻 (a couple)
恋人used for lovers/couples一对恋人 (a couple)
翅膀used for wings一对翅膀 (a pair of wings)
戒指used for rings一对戒指 (a pair of rings)

套tàomeasure word for sets/suites

衣服used for suits of clothes一套衣服 (a suit of clothes)
房子used for apartments/houses一套房子 (an apartment)
家具used for furniture sets一套家具 (a set of furniture)
书used for book series一套书 (a set of books)
茶具used for tea sets一套茶具 (a tea set)

台táimeasure word for machines and performances

电脑used for computers一台电脑 (one computer)
电视used for TVs一台电视 (one TV)
机器used for machines一台机器 (one machine)
冰箱used for refrigerators一台冰箱 (one refrigerator)
洗衣机used for washing machines一台洗衣机 (one washing machine)
戏used for theatrical performances一台戏 (one performance)
烤箱used for ovens一台烤箱 (one oven)
平板used for tablets一台平板 (one tablet)
电饭煲used for rice cookers一台电饭煲 (one rice cooker)
吸尘器used for vacuum cleaners一台吸尘器 (one vacuum cleaner)
电风扇used for electric fans一台电风扇 (one electric fan)
路由器used for routers一台路由器 (one router)
音箱used for speakers一台音箱 (one speaker)
吹风机used for hair dryers一台吹风机 (one hair dryer)
电动牙刷used for electric toothbrushes一支电动牙刷 (one electric toothbrush)

辆liàngmeasure word for vehicles

车used for cars/vehicles一辆车 (one car)
自行车used for bicycles一辆自行车 (one bicycle)
公共汽车used for buses一辆公共汽车 (one bus)
出租车used for taxis一辆出租车 (one taxi)
卡车used for trucks一辆卡车 (one truck)
摩托车used for motorcycles一辆摩托车 (one motorcycle)

家jiāmeasure word for businesses and families

商店used for shops/stores一家商店 (one shop)
公司used for companies一家公司 (one company)
银行used for banks一家银行 (one bank)
饭店used for restaurants一家饭店 (one restaurant)
医院used for hospitals一家医院 (one hospital)
学校used for schools一家学校 (one school)

间jiānmeasure word for rooms

房间used for rooms一间房间 (one room)
教室used for classrooms一间教室 (one classroom)
卧室used for bedrooms一间卧室 (one bedroom)
办公室used for offices一间办公室 (one office)
厨房used for kitchens一间厨房 (one kitchen)

座zuòmeasure word for large structures

山used for mountains一座山 (one mountain)
城市used for cities一座城市 (one city)
桥used for bridges一座桥 (one bridge)
楼used for buildings一座楼 (one building)
塔used for towers一座塔 (one tower)
雕像used for statues一座雕像 (one statue)

棵kēmeasure word for plants and trees

树used for trees一棵树 (one tree)
草used for plants/grass一棵草 (one plant)
仙人掌used for cacti一棵仙人掌 (one cactus)
白菜used for cabbages一棵白菜 (one cabbage)
竹子used for bamboo一棵竹子 (one bamboo)
向日葵used for sunflowers一棵向日葵 (one sunflower)

颗kēmeasure word for small round objects

星星used for stars一颗星星 (one star)
糖used for candies一颗糖 (one candy)
心used for hearts (figurative)一颗心 (one heart)
牙used for teeth一颗牙 (one tooth)
珍珠used for pearls一颗珍珠 (one pearl)
草莓used for strawberries一颗草莓 (one strawberry)

朵duǒmeasure word for flowers and clouds

花used for flowers一朵花 (one flower)
云used for clouds一朵云 (one cloud)
玫瑰used for roses一朵玫瑰 (one rose)

块kuàimeasure word for pieces and chunks

石头used for stones一块石头 (one stone)
钱used for money (yuan)一块钱 (one yuan)
蛋糕used for cakes/pieces一块蛋糕 (a piece of cake)
布used for pieces of cloth一块布 (a piece of cloth)
手表used for watches一块手表 (one watch)
肉used for pieces of meat一块肉 (a piece of meat)

口kǒumeasure word for family members and wells

人used for family members (counting)三口人 (three family members)
井used for wells一口井 (one well)
气used for breaths一口气 (one breath)

支zhīmeasure word for pens and songs

笔used for pens一支笔 (one pen)
歌used for songs (variant)一支歌 (one song)
烟used for cigarettes一支烟 (one cigarette)
冰淇淋used for ice cream cones一支冰淇淋 (one ice cream cone)

把bǎmeasure word for objects with handles

刀used for knives一把刀 (one knife)
椅子used for chairs一把椅子 (one chair)
伞used for umbrellas一把伞 (one umbrella)
钥匙used for keys一把钥匙 (one key)
梳子used for combs一把梳子 (one comb)
勺子used for spoons一把勺子 (one spoon)
雨伞used for umbrellas一把雨伞 (one umbrella)

群qúnmeasure word for groups

人used for crowds of people一群人 (a crowd of people)
孩子used for groups of children一群孩子 (a group of children)
羊used for flocks of sheep一群羊 (a flock of sheep)
鸟used for flocks of birds一群鸟 (a flock of birds)

盏zhǎnmeasure word for lamps and lights

灯used for lamps一盏灯 (one lamp)
落地灯used for floor lamps一盏落地灯 (one floor lamp)
台灯used for desk lamps一盏台灯 (one desk lamp)

根gēnmeasure word for long, thin objects

香蕉used for bananas一根香蕉 (one banana)
绳子used for ropes一根绳子 (one rope)
头发used for a strand of hair一根头发 (a strand of hair)
葱used for scallions一根葱 (one scallion)
黄瓜used for cucumbers一根黄瓜 (one cucumber)
油条used for fried dough sticks一根油条 (one fried dough stick)
电线used for wires一根电线 (one wire)

幅fúmeasure word for pictures and cloth

画used for paintings一幅画 (one painting)
地图used for maps一幅地图 (one map)
照片used for photos (large)一幅照片 (one photo)
对联used for couplets一幅对联 (a pair of couplets)

面miànmeasure word for flat surfaces

镜子used for mirrors一面镜子 (one mirror)
旗used for flags一面旗 (one flag)
墙used for walls一面墙 (one wall)
鼓used for drums一面鼓 (one drum)

层céngmeasure word for layers/floors

楼used for floors of a building一层楼 (one floor)
灰used for a layer of dust一层灰 (a layer of dust)
雪used for a layer of snow一层雪 (a layer of snow)
纸used for a layer of paper一层纸 (a layer of paper)

页yèmeasure word for pages

书used for pages of a book一页书 (one page)
纸used for pages of paper一页纸 (one page)
资料used for pages of material一页资料 (one page)
日记used for diary pages一页日记 (one diary page)

副fùmeasure word for pairs and sets

手套used for pairs of gloves一副手套 (a pair of gloves)
对联used for couplets一副对联 (a pair of couplets)
牌used for decks of cards一副牌 (a deck of cards)
笑脸used for a smiling face一副笑脸 (a smiling face)
眼镜used for glasses一副眼镜 (a pair of glasses)

组zǔmeasure word for groups/sets

数据used for sets of data一组数据 (a set of data)
照片used for groups of photos一组照片 (a group of photos)
词used for groups of words一组词 (a group of words)
学生used for groups of students一组学生 (a group of students)

排páimeasure word for rows

椅子used for rows of chairs一排椅子 (a row of chairs)
房子used for rows of houses一排房子 (a row of houses)
座位used for rows of seats一排座位 (a row of seats)
树used for rows of trees一排树 (a row of trees)

串chuànmeasure word for strings/clusters

葡萄used for bunches of grapes一串葡萄 (a bunch of grapes)
钥匙used for sets of keys一串钥匙 (a set of keys)
珍珠used for strings of pearls一串珍珠 (a string of pearls)
糖葫芦used for candied hawthorns on a stick一串糖葫芦 (a skewer of candied hawthorn)
鞭炮used for strings of firecrackers一串鞭炮 (a string of firecrackers)

束shùmeasure word for bunches/beams

花used for bouquets of flowers一束花 (a bouquet of flowers)
光used for beams of light一束光 (a beam of light)
头发used for a lock of hair一束头发 (a lock of hair)
玫瑰used for bouquets of roses一束玫瑰 (a bouquet of roses)

批pīmeasure word for batches

货used for batches of goods一批货 (a batch of goods)
学生used for a group of students一批学生 (a group of students)
产品used for batches of products一批产品 (a batch of products)
文件used for batches of documents一批文件 (a batch of documents)

列lièmeasure word for trains/rows

火车used for trains一列火车 (one train)
队伍used for a line of people一列队伍 (a line of people)
数字used for columns of numbers一列数字 (a column of numbers)

段duànmeasure word for sections

时间used for a period of time一段时间 (a period of time)
路used for a stretch of road一段路 (a stretch of road)
话used for a passage of speech一段话 (a passage)
历史used for a period of history一段历史 (a period of history)
音乐used for a piece of music一段音乐 (a piece of music)

节jiémeasure word for segments/lessons

课used for lessons/classes一节课 (one lesson)
车厢used for train carriages一节车厢 (one carriage)
电池used for batteries一节电池 (one battery)
竹子used for segments of bamboo一节竹子 (a segment of bamboo)
骨头used for joints of bone一节骨头 (a joint of bone)

项xiàngmeasure word for items/tasks

工作used for tasks/jobs一项工作 (one task)
任务used for tasks一项任务 (one task)
计划used for plans一项计划 (one plan)
运动used for sports一项运动 (one sport)
比赛used for competitions一项比赛 (one competition)
技术used for technologies一项技术 (one technology)

种zhǒngmeasure word for kinds

花used for kinds of flowers一种花 (a kind of flower)
动物used for kinds of animals一种动物 (a kind of animal)
水果used for kinds of fruit一种水果 (a kind of fruit)
语言used for languages一种语言 (one language)
方法used for methods一种方法 (one method)
颜色used for colors一种颜色 (one color)

类lèimeasure word for categories

产品used for categories of products一类产品 (a category of products)
动物used for categories of animals一类动物 (a category of animals)
植物used for categories of plants一类植物 (a category of plants)
人used for types of people一类人 (a type of person)

门ménmeasure word for courses/subjects

课used for courses一门课 (one course)
学问used for fields of study一门学问 (a field of study)
技术used for skills一门技术 (one skill)
语言used for languages一门语言 (one language)

道dàomeasure word for dishes/questions

菜used for dishes of food一道菜 (one dish)
题used for questions/problems一道题 (one question)
门used for doors一道门 (one door)
墙used for walls一道墙 (one wall)
风景used for scenery一道风景 (a scene)

期qīmeasure word for issues/periods

杂志used for magazine issues一期杂志 (one issue)
培训班used for training sessions一期培训班 (one training session)
工程used for phases of a project一期工程 (phase one)

届jièmeasure word for terms/events

会议used for sessions of a conference一届会议 (one session)
比赛used for editions of a competition一届比赛 (one edition)
毕业生used for graduating classes一届毕业生 (one graduating class)
政府used for terms of government一届政府 (one term)

艘sōumeasure word for ships

船used for boats/ships一艘船 (one ship)
军舰used for warships一艘军舰 (one warship)
轮船used for steamships一艘轮船 (one steamship)

架jiàmeasure word for aircraft/instruments

飞机used for airplanes一架飞机 (one airplane)
钢琴used for pianos一架钢琴 (one piano)
梯子used for ladders一架梯子 (one ladder)
桥used for bridges一架桥 (one bridge)

部bùmeasure word for films/works

电影used for movies一部电影 (one movie)
手机used for phones一部手机 (one phone)
小说used for novels一部小说 (one novel)
法律used for laws一部法律 (one law)

所suǒmeasure word for institutions

学校used for schools一所学校 (one school)
医院used for hospitals一所医院 (one hospital)
大学used for universities一所大学 (one university)
房子used for houses一所房子 (one house)

栋dòngmeasure word for buildings

楼used for buildings一栋楼 (one building)
房子used for houses一栋房子 (one house)
别墅used for villas一栋别墅 (one villa)
大楼used for high-rises一栋大楼 (one high-rise)

盒hémeasure word for boxes

巧克力used for boxes of chocolates一盒巧克力 (a box of chocolates)
饼干used for boxes of cookies一盒饼干 (a box of cookies)
糖used for boxes of candy一盒糖 (a box of candy)
药used for boxes of medicine一盒药 (a box of medicine)
饭used for boxed lunches一盒饭 (a boxed lunch)

箱xiāngmeasure word for boxes/crates

苹果used for crates of apples一箱苹果 (a crate of apples)
行李used for suitcases一箱行李 (one suitcase)
啤酒used for crates of beer一箱啤酒 (a crate of beer)
书used for boxes of books一箱书 (a box of books)

袋dàimeasure word for bags

米used for bags of rice一袋米 (a bag of rice)
面粉used for bags of flour一袋面粉 (a bag of flour)
糖used for bags of sugar一袋糖 (a bag of sugar)
垃圾used for bags of garbage一袋垃圾 (a bag of garbage)
零食used for bags of snacks一袋零食 (a bag of snacks)

罐guànmeasure word for cans/jars

可乐used for cans of cola一罐可乐 (a can of cola)
啤酒used for cans of beer一罐啤酒 (a can of beer)
罐头used for canned food一罐罐头 (a can of food)
奶粉used for cans of milk powder一罐奶粉 (a can of milk powder)

桶tǒngmeasure word for buckets

水used for buckets of water一桶水 (a bucket of water)
油used for buckets of oil一桶油 (a bucket of oil)
牛奶used for buckets of milk一桶牛奶 (a bucket of milk)
油漆used for buckets of paint一桶油漆 (a bucket of paint)

盆pénmeasure word for pots/basins

花used for pots of flowers一盆花 (a pot of flowers)
水used for basins of water一盆水 (a basin of water)
菜used for pots of vegetables一盆菜 (a pot of vegetables)

册cèmeasure word for volumes

书used for volumes of books一册书 (one volume)
教材used for textbooks一册教材 (one textbook)
画册used for picture books一册画册 (one picture book)
字典used for dictionaries一册字典 (one dictionary)

章zhāngmeasure word for chapters

小说used for chapters of a novel一章小说 (one chapter)
书used for chapters of a book一章书 (one chapter)
文章used for chapters of an article一章文章 (one chapter)

行hángmeasure word for lines/rows

字used for lines of text一行字 (a line of text)
树used for rows of trees一行树 (a row of trees)
泪used for streams of tears一行泪 (a stream of tears)
诗used for lines of poetry一行诗 (a line of poetry)

趟tàngmeasure word for trips

旅行used for trips一趟旅行 (one trip)
火车used for train journeys一趟火车 (one train)
飞机used for flights一趟飞机 (one flight)
出差used for business trips一趟出差 (one business trip)

圈quānmeasure word for laps/circles

跑道used for laps around a track一圈跑道 (one lap)
绳子used for coils of rope一圈绳子 (a coil of rope)
朋友used for a circle of friends一圈朋友 (a circle of friends)
球场used for laps around a court一圈球场 (one lap)

步bùmeasure word for steps/moves

棋used for moves in chess一步棋 (one move)
路used for steps forward一步路 (one step)
工作used for steps of work一步工作 (one step)
计划used for steps of a plan一步计划 (one step)

阵zhènmeasure word for bursts/periods

雨used for showers of rain一阵雨 (a shower of rain)
风used for gusts of wind一阵风 (a gust of wind)
掌声used for bursts of applause一阵掌声 (a burst of applause)
笑声used for bursts of laughter一阵笑声 (a burst of laughter)
疼痛used for waves of pain一阵疼痛 (a wave of pain)

声shēngmeasure word for sounds

响used for a sound一声响 (one sound)
叫used for a shout一声叫 (one shout)
问候used for a greeting一声问候 (one greeting)
叹息used for a sigh一声叹息 (one sigh)
雷used for a clap of thunder一声雷 (a clap of thunder)

笔bǐmeasure word for sums of money

钱used for sums of money一笔钱 (a sum of money)
账used for accounts一笔账 (one account)
债used for debts一笔债 (one debt)
交易used for transactions一笔交易 (one transaction)

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Chinese measure words?

Chinese measure words (量词) are words placed between a number and a noun when counting. Just like English says 'three cups of tea' instead of 'three teas', Chinese always uses a measure word between the number and the noun — for example, 三个人 (three people) uses 个 as the measure word.

How many measure words are there in Chinese?

There are over 100 common measure words in Chinese, but you only need to master a handful of the most frequent ones (such as 个, 张, 条, 本, 辆) to cover most everyday situations. Each measure word pairs with a specific category of nouns.

How do I know which measure word to use?

The correct measure word depends on the shape or category of the noun. For example, 张 is used for flat objects (paper, tables), 条 for long flexible things (fish, rivers), and 本 for books. The best way to learn is to memorize measure words together with their nouns, not in isolation.

What is the most common measure word in Chinese?

个 (ge) is the most common and versatile measure word. It is the default for people and many general objects. When you are unsure which measure word to use, 个 is often acceptable in casual speech, though learning the specific measure word for each noun is more natural.