Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Mandarin – and How to Fix Them
2023-03-22
Understanding the Use of “了” in Mandarin – When and How to Use It Correctly
2023-05-03
? 1. What Are Measure Words?
In English, you can say “one book,” “two chairs,” or “a glass of water” — and usually, the noun itself tells you what kind of object you’re talking about.
But in Mandarin, there’s an extra step: before a noun, you often need a measure word (also called a classifier).
This might sound unfamiliar at first, but it’s not entirely unique to Chinese. English has similar structures with phrases like:
- “a piece of paper”
- “a bottle of wine”
- “a pair of shoes”
In Mandarin, this structure is used almost every time you count something — even simple things like books or people.
For example:
| ENGLISH | MANDARIN |
|---|---|
| One book | 一本书 (yì běn shū) |
| Two people | 两个人 (liǎng gè rén) |
| Three bottles of beer | 三瓶啤酒 (sān píng píjiǔ) |
Measure words are required between numerals (or demonstratives like 这/那) and nouns.
? 2. Why Do Measure Words Exist?
Measure words help categorize objects by type, shape, or function — making speech more precise.
Some linguists believe that measure words originated from ancient Chinese poetic and literary traditions, where precision and imagery were valued.
Today, they still serve several important roles:
- Classifying objects :
Some measure words reflect the nature of the object — for example, 条 (tiáo ) is often used for long, thin things like fish, rivers, or trousers. - Making numbers meaningful :
Without a measure word, saying just “three” doesn’t tell you what you’re counting — unlike English, which can sometimes drop them (“I want three, please”). - Adding nuance :
Measure words can subtly change how we perceive an object. For instance, 张 (zhāng ) refers to flat, wide objects — so 一张桌子 (yì zhāng zhuōzi ) means “a table,” literally “a flat surface of table.”
? 3. The Most Common Measure Words You Should Know
There are hundreds of measure words in Chinese — some very specific (like those for animals or traditional items), others widely used across daily life.
Here are the most common ones, with examples and usage notes:
| MEASURE WORD | MEANING / USE | EXAMPLES |
|---|---|---|
| 个 (gè) | General-purpose classifier | 一个苹果 (yí gè píngguǒ– one apple)<br>一个人 (yí gè rén– one person) |
| 本 (běn) | Books, volumes | 一本书 (yì běn shū– one book) |
| 条 (tiáo) | Long, thin objects; animals; clothing | 一条鱼 (yì tiáo yú– one fish)<br>一条裤子 (yì tiáo kùzi– one pair of pants) |
| 张 (zhāng) | Flat objects (paper, tables, photos) | 一张纸 (yì zhāng zhǐ– one sheet of paper)<br>一张照片 (yì zhāng zhàopiàn– one photo) |
| 件 (jiàn) | Clothes, items, matters | 一件衣服 (yì jiàn yīfu– one piece of clothing)<br>一件事 (yì jiàn shì– one thing/matter) |
| 只 (zhī) | Animals (especially small or cute ones), birds, and some abstract nouns | 一只猫 (yì zhī māo– one cat)<br>一只鸟 (yì zhī niǎo– one bird) |
| 位 (wèi) | Polite form for people (similar to “Mr./Ms.”) | 一位老师 (yì wèi lǎoshī– one teacher)<br>一位客人 (yì wèi kèrén– one guest) |
| 辆 (liàng) | Vehicles (cars, bikes, buses) | 一辆车 (yì liàng chē– one car) |
| 杯 (bēi) | Cups/glasses | 一杯咖啡 (yì bēi kāfēi– one cup of coffee) |
| 块 (kuài) | Money (informal), pieces | 一块蛋糕 (yí kuài dàngāo– one piece of cake)<br>五块钱 (wǔ kuài qián– five yuan) |
While it may seem overwhelming, most learners start with just 5–10 of these and gradually build up based on their needs.
? 4. Structure: The Basic Pattern
The basic sentence pattern involving measure words is:
[Number] + [Measure Word] + [Noun]
Examples:
- 两本书 (liǎng běn shū ) – two books
- 三个朋友 (sān gè péngyou ) – three friends
- 四杯水 (sì bēi shuǐ ) – four glasses of water
When using pronouns or demonstratives (this/those), the structure becomes:
[Pronoun/Demonstrative] + [Measure Word] + [Noun]
Examples:
- 这个人 (zhè ge rén ) – this person
- 那辆车 (nà liàng chē ) – that car
You’ll see this structure everywhere — from menus to formal documents.
⚠️ 5. Common Mistakes Learners Make
Because measure words don’t exist in English, many learners either skip them or use the wrong one — which can confuse native speakers.
Here are the most frequent errors:
❌ Omitting the Measure Word
Many beginners say “三书” instead of “三本书.” This is incorrect and sounds unnatural.
❌ Using the Same Measure Word for Everything
Using only 个 (gè ) for everything will make your speech understandable — but it won’t sound natural.
For example, saying 一个鱼 (yí gè yú ) instead of 一条鱼 (yì tiáo yú ) makes your language feel off.
❌ Mispronouncing Measure Words
Measure words are pronounced clearly and often carry the neutral tone , especially when used after numbers.
Saying “yì gè” with full tone on “ge” can sound strange.
❌ Mixing Singular and Plural
Mandarin does not have plural forms like “books” vs. “book.” Instead, you use the same structure for singular and plural — just change the number.
Correct:
- 一本书 (yì běn shū ) – one book
- 两本书 (liǎng běn shū ) – two books
Incorrect:
- 两书 (liǎng shū ) – missing the measure word
- 一个个书 (yí gè gè shū ) – repeating the measure word unnecessarily
? 6. How to Learn Measure Words Naturally
Learning all measure words at once isn’t necessary — and can be counterproductive.
Instead, follow this approach:
✅ Start with the Most Frequent Ones
Focus on 个, 本, 条, 张, and 杯 — these appear in everyday conversations and written texts.
✅ Learn with Real Vocabulary
When learning new nouns, always learn them with their correct measure word.
For example:
- 车 → 辆 (car → 辆)
- 水 → 杯 (water → cup)
This helps reinforce the pattern and avoid confusion later.
✅ Use Sentence-Based Learning
Don’t just memorize lists. Practice real sentences:
- 我要一本书。(Wǒ yào yì běn shū. – I want one book.)
- 他买了两瓶水。(Tā mǎi le liǎng píng shuǐ. – He bought two bottles of water.)
Sentence-based exposure helps your brain internalize the structure naturally.
✅ Watch Native Speakers
Listen to native speakers in real-life content — podcasts, vlogs, news clips — and notice how they use measure words.
Pay attention to:
- Which measure word appears with which noun
- Whether it changes in different contexts
- How native speakers vary usage depending on region or formality
? 7. Regional Differences & Variations
Just like vocabulary and pronunciation, measure words can vary slightly across regions.
For example:
| ITEM | MAINLAND CHINA | HONG KONG / TAIWAN |
|---|---|---|
| Trousers | 一条裤子 (yì tiáo kùzi) | 一条裤 (yì tiáo kù) |
| Bottle | 一瓶 (yì píng) | 一支 (yì zhī) — also used in Cantonese-influenced areas |
Also, younger generations sometimes use 个 (gè ) more casually than older speakers — even when another measure word would be technically correct.
These differences are normal and shouldn’t stop you from speaking. Just focus on standard usage unless you’re targeting a specific dialect or region.
?️ 8. Tools That Help You Learn Measure Words
Here are some recommended tools and resources for mastering measure words without relying on AI-sounding explanations:
| TOOL | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
| Pleco Dictionary | Shows measure words in definitions and includes audio |
| Skritter | Teaches writing and context-based usage |
| Anki Flashcards | Create decks with measure word + noun pairs |
| MDBG Free Online Dictionary | Includes usage examples and sentence support |
| CCTV News / CGTN Mandarin | Offers real-world listening practice |
| Integrated Chinese Textbooks | Provides structured grammar explanations including measure words |
Use these as reference tools — not just for passive study, but for active practice.
? 9. Practical Usage Tips
Once you’ve learned a few key measure words, here are some practical tips to apply them effectively:
? Read Daily Materials
Read newspapers, social media posts, or graded readers. Even short articles contain dozens of measure words in context.
?️ Speak With Native Speakers
If possible, speak with native speakers who can point out mistakes and explain why certain measure words are used.
? Write Sentences Every Day
Write things like:
- 今天我喝了一杯咖啡 (Jīntiān wǒ hē le yì bēi kāfēi – Today I drank one cup of coffee)
- 昨天我看了三部电影 (Zuótiān wǒ kàn le sān bù diànyǐng – Yesterday I watched three movies)
Writing reinforces what you’ve learned and exposes gaps in your understanding.
? Learn Nouns with Their Measure Words
Instead of learning “shū (book)” alone, learn “yì běn shū (one book).” This builds better habits early.
? 10. When Can You Skip Measure Words?
While measure words are generally required, there are a few exceptions:
- Before verbs : In phrases like “看三分钟” (kàn sān fēnzhōng – watch for 3 minutes), the measure word is often dropped.
- With abstract quantities : Sometimes, native speakers omit measure words in casual speech, especially online.
- With classifiers built into the word : Some nouns already include a measure word — like 一匹马 (yì pǐ mǎ , one horse), where 匹 is rarely replaced.
Still, as a learner, it’s best to use measure words consistently until you understand when and how to omit them safely.
✅ So
Measure words are not optional in Mandarin — they are part of the grammar system and essential for clear communication.
They may seem confusing at first, but once you get used to the patterns, they become second nature — and even logical.
Think of them as the glue that connects numbers and nouns. Once you understand how they work, your sentences become clearer, more natural, and more fluent.
And while you don’t need to master all of them right away, getting comfortable with the most common ones will give you a huge boost in daily conversation.
So take your time, practice regularly, and soon you’ll find yourself saying things like:
- 两个杯子 (liǎng gè bēizi – two cups)
- 三条裤子 (sān tiáo kùzi – three pairs of pants)
- 五本书 (wǔ běn shū – five books)
Without thinking twice.
