How to Use Measure Words (Starting with 个)
To count nouns in Chinese you need a measure word between the number and the noun: Number + 个 + Noun (三个人 = “three people”). 个 (gè) is the all-purpose one that works for almost anything.
Why this trips learners up
In Chinese, you can't just put a number in front of a noun. “Three people” isn't 三人 — you need a measure word in between: 三个人. The pattern is Number + 个 + Noun, and once it clicks, counting anything follows the same shape: 一个苹果 (“an apple”), 五个问题 (“five questions”).
Chinese has dozens of measure words, each tied to certain nouns — but 个 (gè) is the hero of the bunch. It's the all-purpose one: when you can't recall the “proper” measure word, 个 will get you understood, and for many nouns it's the only correct choice anyway. One bonus: when the number is just “one”, you can drop the 一 and let 个 stand alone, exactly like English “a/an” — 我有个问题 (“I have a question”).
The structure
Colour key
Each colour marks one grammatical role — and the same colour means the same role on every page in the Lab.
Examples in context
Real-world sentences, easiest first. Toggle pinyin or the translation, tap any word to see its role, or play the audio.
Tap a word to see its grammatical role.
wǒ 我 Subject diǎn 点 Verb le 了 Function word yī 一 Number gè 个 Pattern hànbǎo 汉堡 Object
I ordered a hamburger.
wǒmen bān 我们班 Subject yǒu 有 Verb sān 三 Number gè 个 Pattern lǎoshī 老师 Object
Our class has three teachers.
wǒ 我 Subject xiǎng 想 Function word mǎi 买 Verb liǎng 两 Number gè 个 Pattern bēizi 杯子 Object
I want to buy two cups.
nǐ 你 Subject yào 要 Verb jǐ 几 Number gè 个 Pattern
How many do you want?
wǒ 我 Subject rènshi 认识 Verb gè 个 Pattern lǜshī 律师 Object
I know a lawyer.
tā 他 Subject shì 是 Verb gè 个 Pattern búcuò de 不错的 Adjective rén 人 Object
He's a decent guy.
Common mistakes
Why it happens: A number can't sit straight against a noun. “Three friends” needs a measure word: 三个朋友, never 三朋友. This is the rule behind every count in Chinese — number, measure word, then noun.
Why it happens: Demonstratives need a measure word too. “This friend” is 这个朋友, not 这朋友; “that book” is 那本书. 这 / 那 behave like a number here — they take 个 (or the noun's own measure word).
Why it happens: 个 is the safe default, but it isn't always right. Some nouns have their own measure word — books take 本 (三本书), not 个. Use 个 when unsure, but pick up the common specific ones too.
Compare & contrast
| Number + 个 (counting) | 个 alone = “a/an” (one, dropped) | The difference |
|---|---|---|
| 我有一个问题。wǒ yǒu yí gè wèntí. | 我有个问题。wǒ yǒu gè wèntí. | 我有一个问题 = “I have one question”. Drop the 一 and 我有个问题 is just “I have a question” — casual, like English “a”. |
| 他是一个老师。tā shì yí gè lǎoshī. | 他是个老师。tā shì gè lǎoshī. | 他是一个老师 counts him as one teacher. 他是个老师 simply means “he's a teacher”. |
Try it yourself
Say “I have three questions” — tap the words into order.
Related patterns
Quick reference card
How to Use Measure Words (Starting with 个) grammar.merrymandarin.com A pocket summary — print it and keep it by your desk.