Chinese Measure Words
You cannot count anything in Chinese without a measure word between the number and the noun. Here are the ones HSK 1–2 expects.
In English you say “two books.” In Chinese you have to say 两本书 — “two běn of book.”
The rule
Every Chinese noun is counted through a measure word (量词 liàngcí) that sits between the number and the thing. 一个人 yí gè rén, 两本书 liǎng běn shū, 三块钱 sān kuài qián. Drop the measure word and it is simply not a sentence.
English does this too, in a few corners — “two sheets of paper,” “three loaves of bread.” Chinese just does it for every noun, including ones where English needs nothing.
The words
Measure words are the single most common place beginners stall. Learn them in pairs with the nouns they go with.
| Character | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 个 | gè | measure word (general) | HSK 1 |
| 本 | běn | measure word (books) | HSK 1 |
| 块 | kuài | measure word (money) | HSK 1 |
| 次 | cì | [measure word for how many times something happens] | HSK 2 |
| 件 | jiàn | [measure word] | HSK 2 |
| 一下 | yīxià | [after a verb] quickly, briefly, casually | HSK 2 |
Why 个 is your friend
个 gè is the default. When you do not know the right measure word, 个 will usually be accepted — it is the fallback that native speakers also reach for with unfamiliar objects. Start there, then learn the ones that matter.
The ones worth learning early, because 个 is genuinely wrong for them: 本 běn for bound things (books, notebooks), 块 kuài for money and chunks, 件 jiàn for items of clothing and matters, 次 cì for occurrences (“three times”).
Common mistakes
- 一个书 — Wrong. Books take 本: 一本书.
- 一 people / 一人 — You need the measure word: 一个人. Saying 一人 sounds like classical Chinese, not conversation.
- Using 二 for two items — When counting things, use 两 liǎng, not 二 èr. 两个人, never 二个人.
In a sentence
- 我要一杯茶。 Wǒ yào yì bēi chá.
I’d like a cup of tea. - 这本书多少钱？ Zhè běn shū duōshao qián?
How much is this book? - 我去过三次。 Wǒ qù guo sān cì.
I’ve been there three times.