NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Chinese measure word

In the Chinese languages, measure words or classifiers (Traditional Chinese: 量詞; Simplified Chinese: 量词; pinyin: liàngcí; Cantonese (Yale): leung4 chi4) are used along with numerals to define the quantity of a given object or objects, or with "this"/"that" to identify specific objects. Chinese (written) language (pinyin: zhōngw n) written in Chinese characters The Chinese language (汉语/漢語, 华语/華語, or 中文; Pinyin: H nyǔ, Hu yǔ, or Zhōngw n) is a member of the Sino-Tibetan family of languages. ... Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese: æ£é«”å—/ç¹é«”å—, Simplified Chinese: æ£ä½“å—/ç¹ä½“å—) refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ... The Yale romanizations are four systems created during World War II for use by United States military personnel. ...

In Chinese, simple numerals cannot quantify a noun by itself; instead, the language relies on what are known as measure words or, to a lesser extent, classifiers. There are two types of such classifiers, nominal and verbal, with the latter being used in quantifying verbs and the amount of time which they take precedence. English also has its share of classifiers, however, these are generally understood to be extraneous and ultimately construe the object in question to greater detail. As an example, in the English phrase "a stretch of sand", the word "stretch" is needed to disambiguate whether the sand is actually one grain or an entire beach's worth. Therefore, "stretch" serves to further specify the quantity of sand. We can also speak of "a bucketful of sand", "a grain of sand" or "a ton of sand". Another example is the word "slice" as in "a slice of bread". "Glass" as in "a glass of water" is another example. Contrast these phrases with "a sand", "a bread", and "a water". Measure words, in linguistics, are words (or morphemes) that are used in combination with a numeral to indicate the count of nouns. ... A classifier, in linguistics, is a word or morpheme used in some languages in certain contexts to indicate the word class of a noun. ... A nominal is a word or a group of words that functions as a noun, i. ... Broadly conceived, linguistics is the study of human language, and a linguist is someone who engages in this study. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ...

It should be noted that the usage of measure words in Chinese is strictly mandatory, that is, they must be used so long as a quantifying numeral or a pronoun is present (a definite article like English "the" does not exist as such in Chinese). In contrast with the English language wherein "a flock of birds" is roughly equivalent to "some birds", in Chinese only "一群鳥" (一群鸟) is possible. Likewise, "a bird" should be translated into "一隻鳥" (一只鸟); it is as though we were forced to say "a specimen of a bird". Definite Article is the title of British comedian Eddie Izzards 1996 performance released on video and CD. The video/DVD and CD performances were both recorded on different nights at the Shaftesbury Theatre in London, England. ...

Usage also depends on personal preference and dialects. For example, some people use 三部車; (三部车) and others use 三台車 (三台车) to mean three cars. Still others use 三輛車 (三辆车) or in Cantonese 三架車 (三架车), with all of these measure words serving the same purpose.

Some measure words are true units, which all languages must have in order to measure things, e.g. kilometres. These are displayed first, then other nominal classifiers, and finally verbal classifiers.

The first column contains the traditional version of the classifier's character, the second contains the simplified version where it differs, the third contains the pronunciation given in Hanyu Pinyin, the fourth contains the pronunciation given in Cantonese romanization (Yale), and the fifth explains the word's principal uses. Quotation marks surround the literal meaning of the measure word. Pinyin (拼音, Pīnyīn) literally means join (together) sounds (a less literal translation being phoneticize, spell or transcription) in Chinese and usually refers to Hànyǔ Pīnyīn (汉语拼音, literal meaning: Han language pinyin), which is a system of...

1 Nominal Classifiers
- 1.1 True units
- 1.2 More idiomatic
2 Verbal Classifiers
3 Informal Classifiers
4 Examples
5 See also
6 Special characters

Nominal Classifiers

True units

Column key: Trad. is Traditional, Simp. shows changes made for the simplified variant (if any).

Trad.	Simp.	Pinyin	Cantonese	Main uses
Time
秒		miǎo	miu5	"second"
分		fēn	fan1	"minute"
刻		kè	hak1 haak1	"quarter","15 minutes" (mainly in some dialects, such as Shanghainese, and translations)
小時	小时	xiǎoshí	siu2 si4	"hour"
鐘	钟	zhōng	jung1	"hour" (found in southern Chinese)
時辰	时辰	shíchén	si4 san4	"2 hours" (ancient)
天		tiān	tin1	"day"
日		rì	yat6	"day"
年		nián	nin4	"year"
載	载	zǎi	joi2 joi3	"year"
世紀	世纪	shìjì	sai3 gei2	"century"
Weight/mass
克		kè	hak1 haak1	"gram"
斤		jīn	gan1	"catty", "pound", 1/2 kilograms
公斤		gōngjīn	gung1 gan1	"kilogram"
千克		qiānkè	chin1 hak1/haak1	"kilogram"
噸	吨	dūn	deun1	"ton"
Length/distance
公分		gōngfēn	gung1 fan1	"centimetre" (less common)
厘米		límǐ	lei4 mai5	"centimetre"
寸		cùn	chyun3	Chinese "inch"
吋		cùn	chyun3	British inch Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; also Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) refer to one of two standard Chinese character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language, officially simplified by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in an attempt to promote literacy. ... Shanghainese (ä¸Šæµ·è¨€è¯ [] in Shanghainese), sometimes referred to as the Shanghai dialect, is a dialect of Wu Chinese spoken in the city of Shanghai. ...
尺		chǐ	che2/chek3	Chinese "foot"
呎		chǐ	chek3	British foot
英尺		yīngchǐ	ying1 chek3	British foot
公尺		gōngchǐ	gung1 chek3	"metre"
米		mǐ	mai5	"metre"
里		lǐ	lei5	"lǐ", about 1/3 mile
哩		lǐ	le1/lei5/li1	British mile
英里		yīnglǐ	ying1 lei5	British mile
公里		gōnglǐ	gung1 lei5	"kilometre"
天文單位	天文单位	tiānwéndānwèi	tin1 man4 daan1 wai2	"astronomical unit"
光年		guāngnián	gwong1 nin4	"light year"
秒差距		miǎochājù	miu5 cha1 geui6	"parsec"
Money
圓	元	yuán	yun4	"yuán", "¥" (main unit of currency) (either form can be used in Traditional Chinese text)
塊	块	kuài	faai3	"yuán", "¥" (a slang term, like "quid" or "buck")
角	交	jiāo	gok3/luk6	"jiāo", "dime", "tenpence" (either form can be used in Simplified Chinese text)
毫	毛	máo	hou4	"jiāo", "dime", "tenpence" (slang) (either form can be used in Traditional Chinese text)
分		fēn	fan1/fan6	"fēn", "cent", "penny"

Li: A Chinese unit of distance, é‡Œ (LÇ), a li is equal to 500 metres, or about 1/3 mile. ... The astronomical unit (AU or au or a. ... A light-year or lightyear (symbol: ly) is a unit of measurement of length, specifically the distance light travels in vacuum in one Julian year. ... Stellar parallax motion The parsec (symbol pc) is a unit of length used in astronomy. ...

More idiomatic

Column key: Trad. is Traditional, Simp. shows changes made for the simplified variant (if any).

Trad.	Simp.	Pinyin	Cantonese(Yale Romanization)	Main uses
把		bǎ	ba2	"handful" — objects that can be held (knives, keys; also chairs)
班		bān	baan1	scheduled services (trains, etc.), group of people, a class as in pupils
包		bāo	baau1	"package", "bundle"
杯		bēi	bui1	"cup" — drinks
本		běn	bun2	"volume" — bound print matter (books, etc.)
筆	笔	bǐ	bat1	large quantities of money
部		bù	bou6	novels, movies
册		cè	chaak3	volumes of books
層	层	céng	chaang4	"story", "layer" — buildings, etc
場	场	chǎng	cheung4	public spectacles, games
床		chuáng	chong4	"bed" — blankets, sheets
次		cì	chi3	"time" — opportunities, accidents
齣	出	chū		acts in a play
袋		dài	doi6	sackfuls, pouchfuls, bagfuls, pocketfuls
道		dào	dou6	linear projections (light rays, etc.), orders given by an authoritative figure
滴		dī	dik6	"droplet" water, blood, and other such fluids
點	点	diǎn	dim2	ideas, suggestions, can also mean "a bit"
頂	顶	dǐng	deng2	objects with protruding top (hats, etc.)
棟	栋	dòng	dung6	lit. pillars, used for buildings
堵		dǔ	dou6	walls and encompassing fixtures
段		duàn	dyun6	"adjoining length" — cables, roadways, etc.
對	对	duì	deui3	"couple" — people, "pair" (for certain things only) earrings, couplets,
頓	顿	dùn	deun6	meals
朵		duǒ	do2/deu2	flowers, clouds
份		fèn	fan6	portions
封		fēng	fung1	letters, mail
幅		fú	fuk1	works of art (paintings, etc.)
服		fù	fuk6	"dose" — (Chinese) medicine
副		fù	fu3	objects which come in pairs (gloves, etc.) also for spectacles, a pack of cards, mahjong,
個	个	ge (gè)	go3	individual things, people — usage of this classifier in conjunction with any noun is generally accepted if the person does not know the proper classifier.
根		gēn	gan1	thin, slender objects (needles, pillars, etc.)
股		gǔ	gu2	flows (of air, influence)....
罐	罐	guan4		Small to medium cans of soda, of juice, Bottles of water, Cans of food...
行		háng	hong4	objects which form lines (words, etc.)
盒		hé	hap6	"small box" — e.g. tape
户		hù	wu6	households
伙		huǒ	fo2	generally derogatory classifier for bands of people such as gangs or hoodlums
家		jiā	ga1	gathering of people (families, companies, etc.)
架		jià	ga3	aircraft, pianos, machines
間	间	jiān	gaan1	rooms
件		jiàn	gin6	matters, clothing, etc.
節	节	jié	jit3	"section" — of bamboo, etc.
屆	届	jiè	gaai3	regularly scheduled sessions or meetings
句		jù	geui3	lines, sentences, etc.
棵		kē	po1	trees and other such flora
顆	颗	kē	fo2	small objects (hearts, pearls, teeth, diamonds etc.) and also objects appearing to be small (distant stars and planets)
口		kǒu	hau2	people in villages, family members, wells
塊	块	kuài	faai3	"chunk", "lump", "piece" — land, stones, etc.; cake, bread (not slices)
類	类	lèi	leui6	objects of the same type or nature
粒		lì	lap1	"grain"
輛	辆	liàng	leung2	automobiles, bicycles, etc.
列		liè	lit6	trains
枚		méi	mui4	medals, small flat things like stamps, banana peels, also for rings
門	门	mén	mun4	objects pertaining to academics (courses, majors, etc.)
面		miàn	min6	flat and smooth objects (mirrors, flags, etc.)
名		míng	ming4	high-ranking persons (doctors, lawyers, politicians, royalty, etc.)
排		pái	paai4	objects grouped in rows (chairs, etc)
盤	盘	pán	pun4	flat objects (video cassettes, etc.)
批		pī	pai1	people, goods, etc.
匹		pǐ	pat1	horses and other mounts, rolls/bolts of cloth
篇		piān	pin1	papers, articles, etc.
片		piàn	pin3	"slice" — flat objects, cards, slices of bread, etc.
瓶		píng	ping4	"bottle" — drinks
期		qī	kei4	magazines
群		qún	kwan4	"group", "herd"
扇		shàn	sin3	doors, windows.
首		shǒu	sau2	songs, poems, music, etc.
束		shù	chuk1	bunches
雙	双	shuāng	seung1	objects which come in pairs
艘		sōu	sau2	ships
所		suǒ	so2	buildings
台		tái	toi4	heavy objects (TVs, computers, etc.) and performances (theatre, etc.)
堂		táng	tong4	periods of classes, suites of furniture
趟		tàng	tong3	scheduled transportation services
套		tào	tou3	"set" — books, magazines, collectibles, clothes,
題	题	tí	tai4	classifier for questions
條	条	tiáo	tiu4	long, narrow, flexible objects (fish, trousers, etc.)
頭	头	tóu	tau4	"head" — certain animals (pigs, cows, etc.), hair
團	团	tuán	tyun4	"ball" — rotund and wound objects (balls of yarn, etc.)
位		wèi	wai2	polite classifier for people
項	项	xiàng	hong6	projects
樣	样	yàng	yeung6	general items of differing attributes
扎		zhā	ja1	In Cantonese usage, this is used in lieu of shù (束), e.g. a bundle of flowers "jar", "jug" — drinks such as beer, soda, juice, etc. (A recent loan-word from English, it may be considered informal or slang.)
盞	盏	zhǎn	jaan2	light fixtures (usually lamps), pot of tea etc.
張	张	zhāng	jeung1	"sheet" — flat objects (paper, tables, etc.), faces, bows, paintings, tickets, constellations
陣	阵	zhèn	jan6	"gust", "burst" — events with short durations (lightning storms, gusts of wind)
支		zhī	ji1	stick-like objects (pens, chopsticks, etc.)
隻	只	zhī	jek3	one of a pair, animals (birds, cats, etc.)
枝		zhī	ji1	alternative form of 支,"stalk" can be used for rifles and roses.
種	种	zhǒng	jung2	types or kinds of objects
組	组	zǔ	jou2	sets, rows, series, batteries
座		zuò	jo6	large structures or mountains

Traditional Chinese characters are one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ; also Simplified Chinese: ; Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ) refer to one of two standard Chinese character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language, officially simplified by the government of the Peoples Republic of China in an attempt to promote literacy. ...

Verbal Classifiers

Column key: Trad. is Traditional, Simp. shows changes made for the simplified variant (if any).

Trad.	Simp.	Pinyin	Cantonese	Main uses
遍		biàn	bin3 pin3	the number of times an action has been completed
場	场	chǎng	cheung4	a length of an event taking place within another event
次		cì	chi3	times (unlike 遍, 次 refers to the number of times regardless of whether or not it was completed)
頓	顿	dùn	deun6	actions without repetition
回		huí	wui4	occurrences (used colloquially)
聲	声	shēng	seng1/sing1	cries, shouts, etc.
趟		tàng	tong3	trips, visitations, etc.
下		xià	ha5/ha6	brief and often sudden actions (much more common in Cantonese than in North dialects).

Informal Classifiers

In modern colloquial speech of certain Chinese dialects, 俩 (liǎ) is sometimes used in lieu of 两个 (liǎng ge), thereby assuming the identity of a measure word meaning "two of (such and such)". The same holds true for 仨 (sā), three (items of a general nature). A colloquialism is an informal expression, that is, an expression not used in formal speech or writing. ... Spoken Chinese The Chinese spoken language(s) comprise(s) many regional variants. ...

Examples

Colour-coding: measure words are in green and nouns are in purple.

去年我騎了一匹馬。(去年我骑了一匹马。)

Last year, I rode a horse.

這臺電視看了一次就壞了。(这台电视看了一次就坏了。)

This television set broke after one viewing.

我訂了這兩班車。(我订了这两班车。)

I've reserved (tickets for) these two buses.

下完這陣雨我才會爬那座山。(下完这阵雨我才会爬那座山。)

Only after this rain passes will I climb that mountain.

一根頭髮。(一根头发。)

A hair, a strand of hair.

五分(鐘)。(五分(钟)。)

Five minutes(' time)

十天(時間)。(十天(时间)。)

Ten days(' time)

一百頭牛。(一百头牛。)

A hundred oxen, a hundred head of cattle.

一個蘋果。(一个苹果。)

An apple

一斤蘋果。(一斤苹果。)

A pound of apples.

Special characters

Because of technical limitations, some web browsers may not display some special characters in this article.

Categories: Chinese language | Lists of words | Measurement An example of a web browser (Mozilla Firefox), displaying the English Wikipedia main page. ...

Results from FactBites:

Chinese measure word - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (881 words)
	In the Chinese language, measure words or classifiers (Traditional Chinese: 量詞; Simplified Chinese: 量词; Pinyin: liàngcí; Cantonese (Yale): leung4 chi4) are used along with numerals to define the quantity of a given object or objects, or with "this"/"that" to identify specific objects.
	In Chinese, simple numerals cannot quantify a noun by itself; instead, the language relies on what are known as measure words or, to a lesser extent, classifiers.
	In modern colloquial speech of certain Chinese dialects, 倆 (liǎ) is sometimes used in lieu of 兩個 (liǎng ge), thereby assuming the identity of a measure word meaning "two of (such and such)".

Chinese language - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (6290 words)
	Old Chinese (T:上古漢語S:上古汉语P:Shànggǔ Hànyǔ), sometimes known as "Archaic Chinese," was the language common during the early and middle Zhōu Dynasty (1122 BC - 256 BC), texts of which include inscriptions on bronze artifacts, the poetry of the Shījīng, the history of the Shūjīng, and portions of the Yìjīng (I Ching).
	Chinese is first known to have been written in Latin characters by Western Christian missionaries of the 16th century, but may have been written down by Western travelers or missionaries of earlier periods.
	Chinese morphology is strictly bound to a set number of syllables with a fairly rigid construction which are the morphemes, the smallest building blocks, of the language.

More results at FactBites »

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