Chapter in 30 Seconds
Unlock the secret 'glue' of Chinese sentences by mastering the art of counting with measure words.
- Select the correct counter for people, animals, and books.
- Apply the 'Number + Measure Word + Noun' formula correctly.
- Express extreme emphasis using the 'not even one' grammar pattern.
学べること
Learn essential measure words (量词) like 个, 只, 张, 本 for counting different types of objects.
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中国語の万能量詞：个 (gè)数字と物の間をつなぐ「魔法の橋」だと思ってください。 «个» がないと文章がバラバラになっちゃいます！
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中国語で数える：量詞の魔法 (`个`, `本`, `张`)中国語では物を直接数えられません！数字と物の間に「橋」をかけるイメージで «个» «本» «张» などの量詞を使いましょう。
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本や雑誌を数える量詞 (běn)本や雑誌、ノートなど「背表紙があるもの」を数えるときは、必ず «本» (běn) をセットで使いましょう！
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平らなものの量詞 (张 - zhāng)「薄くて平らなもの」や「広がりのあるもの」には全部 «张» を使いましょう。紙からベッドまで «张» ひとつでOK！
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人への丁寧な数え方 (位 wèi)リスペクトしたい相手には «位»、自分や友達には «个»、人数を聞くなら «几位» を使いましょう！
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動物を数える：量詞「只 (zhī)」の使い方動物や鳥、ペアの片方を数える時は魔法の言葉 «只» (zhī) を使いましょう。
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数え方の基本：必須の量詞 (量词)中国語で物を数える時は「数字 ＋ «量詞» ＋ 名詞」のセットが鉄則！ «个» や «本» などの「量詞」が言葉をつなぐ接着剤になります。
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一つも～ない：強い否定 (连...都不)「1つ」や「少し」という言葉を否定文の前に持ってくるだけで、「ゼロ」を強調する魔法のフレーズ «一...也/都...不/没» が完成します！
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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1
By the end you will be able to correctly use 个 (gè) for general objects and people in daily conversation.
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2
By the end you will be able to differentiate between specific measure words for animals, flat objects, and books.
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3
By the end you will be able to emphasize a total lack of something using the 连...都不 (lián... dōu bù) structure.
チャプターガイド
Overview
three books or two cats, Chinese requires a special word, a measure word, to be placed between the number and the noun. This chapter will introduce you to this fundamental aspect of Chinese grammar, showing you how to count various objects, animals, and even people correctly and politely.universal measure word 个 (gè) for general items and people, the specific measure word 只 (zhī) for animals, and 张 (zhāng) for flat objects. We'll also cover 本 (běn) for books and magazines, and 位 (wèi) for respectfully counting people. Beyond just counting, you'll also discover how to use the powerful «连...都不 (lián...dōu bù)» structure to express emphatic negation, meaning not even one of something.not even one of something. This skill is a cornerstone of basic Chinese communication and will significantly improve your fluency and understanding.How This Grammar Works
Thing Counter: 个 (gè)- Example: 一个人 (yí gè rén) - one person
- Example: 两个苹果 (liǎng gè píngguǒ) - two apples
- Example: 三个杯子 (sān gè bēizi) - three cups
- Example: 一只狗 (yì zhī gǒu) - one dog
- Example: 两只猫 (liǎng zhī māo) - two cats
- Example: 三只鸟 (sān zhī niǎo) - three birds
- Example: 一张纸 (yì zhāng zhǐ) - one piece of paper
- Example: 两张桌子 (liǎng zhāng zhuōzi) - two tables
- Example: 三张票 (sān zhāng piào) - three tickets
- Example: 一本书 (yì běn shū) - one book
- Example: 两本杂志 (liǎng běn zázhì) - two magazines
- Example: 一位老师 (yí wèi lǎoshī) - one teacher (polite)
- Example: 两位客人 (liǎng wèi kèren) - two guests (polite)
- Example: 谢谢这位先生。(Xièxie zhè wèi xiānsheng.) - Thank this gentleman.
- Example: 他连一个苹果都没有。(Tā lián yí gè píngguǒ dōu méi yǒu.) - He doesn't even have one apple.
- Example: 我连一张票都买不到。(Wǒ lián yì zhāng piào dōu mǎi bú dào.) - I can't even buy one ticket.
- Example: 今天连一位学生都没来。(Jīntiān lián yí wèi xuéshēng dōu méi lái.) - Not even one student came today.
Common Mistakes
not even one coin/cent,a specific smaller unit of currency like 分 (fēn - cent) or 毛 (máo - 1/10 yuan) is more natural and emphatic, or you can just say «他连钱都没有» (He doesn't even have money). For
not even one item, you need a specific measure word for the item itself. If counting pieces of currency, you'd use 块 (kuài) or 毛 (máo) or 分 (fēn). For an abstract
one unit of money, it's usually not «一个钱».
two is followed by a measure word, you almost always use 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr). 二 (èr) is used for numbers like number two, «20», «22», or in mathematical contexts.
Real Conversations
Conversation 1:
A
Nǐ yǒu jǐ gè píngguǒ?
B
Wǒ yǒu sān gè píngguǒ.
A
Hǎo de, xièxie!
Translation:
A
B
A
Conversation 2:
A
Nǐ jiā yǒu jǐ zhī gǒu?
B
Wǒ jiā yǒu liǎng zhī gǒu hé yì zhī māo.
A
Wa, hǎo kě'ài!
Translation:
A
B
A
Conversation 3:
A
Bàngōngshì lǐ yǒu jǐ wèi lǎoshī?
B
Duìbuqǐ, jīntiān lián yí wèi lǎoshī dōu méi lái.
A
Ō, wǒ zhīdào le.
Translation:
A
B
A
Quick FAQ
Why do Chinese people use measure words?
Measure words are a fundamental part of Chinese grammar. They serve to categorize nouns and make counting specific, much like how in English we might say
a *piece* of paperor
a *herd* of cattle,but Chinese applies this concept to almost every countable noun. They add precision and structure to the language.
Is «个 (gè)» always safe to use if I don't know the correct measure word?
For A1 learners, 个 (gè) is often a convenient default measure word if you completely forget the specific one. While it might not always be perfectly correct or sound natural for every noun, it is generally understood and the most versatile. However, it's best to learn the specific measure words as you encounter new nouns for accuracy and fluency.
When do I use «两 (liǎng)» instead of «二 (èr)» for the number two?
You should almost always use 两 (liǎng) when the number two is followed by a measure word (e.g., 两个人 liǎng gè rén, 两本书 liǎng běn shū). 二 (èr) is used when counting numbers by themselves (like in phone numbers, erling), when two is part of a larger number (like 二十 èrshí for twenty), or in certain numerical contexts (e.g., 星期二 xīngqī'èr for Tuesday).
What about «连...都不 (lián...dōu bù)»? Does it always mean not even one?
The structure 连...都不 (lián...dōu bù) translates to not even... and is used for emphatic negation. When you include a number and measure word like 连一个... (lián yí gè...), it specifically means not even one. However, the structure can also be used with other phrases to say not even big, not even good, etc., but for A1, focus on its use with numbers to express not even one of something.
Cultural Context
a paper as a single unit, Chinese meticulously defines it as «一张纸» (yì zhāng zhǐ), literally one sheet of paper,highlighting its flat characteristic. This linguistic precision underscores a cultural tendency towards specificity and detailed observation.
重要な例文 (8)
ヒントとコツ (4)
「えーっと…」の救世主
困ったときの「个」
「2冊」のルール
「シート状」のイメージ
重要な語彙 (7)
Real-World Preview
At the Bookstore
Review Summary
- Number + 个(gè) + Noun
- Number + 只(zhī) + Noun
- Number + 张(zhāng) + Noun
- 连(lián) + Number + Measure Word + Noun + 都(dōu) + 不(bù) + Verb
- Number + 本(běn) + Noun
- Number + 位(wèi) + Noun
よくある間違い
In English we say 'one apple', but in Chinese, you MUST have a measure word between the number and the noun.
When counting 'two' of something with a measure word, always use 两(liǎng) instead of 二(èr).
While 个(gè) is universal, using the specific measure word 本(běn) for books is required for basic fluency.
このチャプターのルール (8)
Next Steps
You've just climbed one of the most important hills in Chinese grammar! Measure words might feel new, but they quickly become second nature. Keep counting!
Label items in your room with their number and correct measure word.
Count the animals you see in a picture book using 只(zhī).
クイック練習 (10)
お茶を1杯も飲みませんでした。 {我|wǒ} {一|yì} {杯|bēi} {茶|chá} ___ {没|méi} {喝|hē}。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 一つも～ない：強い否定 (连...都不)
我买了一个杂志。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 本や雑誌を数える量詞 (běn)
「2羽の鳥」はどう言いますか？
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 動物を数える：量詞「只 (zhī)」の使い方
Find and fix the mistake:
{请问你们几个？|Qǐngwèn nǐmen jǐ gè?}
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 人への丁寧な数え方 (位 wèi)
{一|yī} ___ {书|shū} (1冊の本)
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 数え方の基本：必須の量詞 (量词)
Find and fix the mistake:
{我|wǒ} {买|mǎi} {一|yī} {面包|miànbāo}。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 数え方の基本：必須の量詞 (量词)
「少しも疲れていません」はどう言う？
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 一つも～ない：強い否定 (连...都不)
私には兄が一人います。 = 我有___哥哥。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 中国語の万能量詞：个 (gè)
{那___老师在教室里。|Nà ___ lǎoshī zài jiàoshì lǐ.}
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 人への丁寧な数え方 (位 wèi)
正しい文を選んでください：
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 人への丁寧な数え方 (位 wèi)
Score: /10
よくある質問 (6)
this book ですが、中国語では this [量詞] book {这本书|zhè běn shū} と言う必要があります。初心者が一番間違えやすいポイントです。
