Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
In Chinese, you cannot count nouns directly; you must use a 'measure word' as a bridge between numbers and objects.
- Use 'Number + Measure Word + Noun' for counting: {三|sān} {个|gè} {人|rén} (three people).
- The word {个|gè} is the 'universal' measure word if you forget the specific one.
- Measure words are required even for singular items: {一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū} (one book).
Overview
- 1
个 (gè)：これは最も汎用的な量詞で、日本語の「個」に近い感覚です。人や、特定の量詞が思い浮かばない時に使える「万能選手」です。例えば「一个人（一人）」のように使います。 - 2
本 (běn)：これは「本」という漢字の通り、綴じられたものに使います。「一本书（本を1冊）」のように、雑誌や辞書など、ページが重なっているものにはすべてこれを使います。日本語の「冊」に相当します。 - 3
张 (zhāng)：これは「平らなもの」に使います。紙、テーブル、写真、チケットなど、表面が平らなものには「张」を使います。日本語の「枚」や「台」の役割をカバーするイメージです。
三个学生 (学生3人) |这本书 (この本) |几张票 (何枚のチケット) |- 買い物をする時：カフェで「コーヒーを1杯ください」と言うなら
我要一杯咖啡と言います。「杯」は「カップ」を意味する量詞です。 - 人を紹介する時：友達を指して
这是我的一个朋友（これは私の友達の一人です）と使います。 - 質問する時：相手に「何冊持っていますか？」と聞くなら
你有几本书？と言います。「几」は「いくつか」を尋ねる疑問詞で、その直後には必ず量詞が必要です。
个 を使いつつ、少しずつ 本 や 张 を増やしていけば大丈夫です！- 1量詞の省略：日本語では「りんご3つ」と言えますが、中国語で
三苹果と言うのはNGです。これは日本語の「3つのりんご」という語順に引っ張られているためです。必ず三个苹果と言わなければなりません。 - 2
个の乱用：何でも个で済ませてしまうパターンです。例えば本を一个书と言っても通じますが、ネイティブからすると「この人はまだ量詞を勉強中だな」と分かってしまいます。本や张を使い分けることで、より上級者の響きになります。 - 3
二と两の混同：二本书と言ってしまうミスです。これは日本語の「二（に）」という発音と、中国語の二が重なるため、無意識に選んでしまうのです。数えるときは必ず两を使うと覚えておきましょう。
个 を完璧にし、次に 本 や 张 などの頻出するものを少しずつ覚えていきましょう。个 を使ってください。通じないことはありませんし、まずは会話を止めないことが一番の練習になります。Basic Counting Structure
| Number | Measure Word | Noun | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
{一|yī}
|
{个|gè}
|
{人|rén}
|
{一|yī} {个|gè} {人|rén}
|
|
{两|liǎng}
|
{本|běn}
|
{书|shū}
|
{两|liǎng} {本|běn} {书|shū}
|
|
{三|sān}
|
{张|zhāng}
|
{纸|zhǐ}
|
{三|sān} {张|zhāng} {纸|zhǐ}
|
|
{四|sì}
|
{个|gè}
|
{苹|píng} {果|guǒ}
|
{四|sì} {个|gè} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ}
|
|
{五|wǔ}
|
{本|běn}
|
{杂|zá} {志|zhì}
|
{五|wǔ} {本|běn} {杂|zá} {志|zhì}
|
|
{六|liù}
|
{张|zhāng}
|
{桌|zhuō} {子|zi}
|
{六|liù} {张|zhāng} {桌|zhuō} {子|zi}
|
Meanings
Measure words (classifiers) are required grammatical particles used to quantify nouns, acting as a bridge between a number and the object being counted.
General Counting
Used for most people and general objects.
“{一|yī} {个|gè} {学|xué} {生|shēng}”
“{三|sān} {个|gè} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ}”
Flat Objects
Used for paper, tables, beds, or photos.
“{一|yī} {张|zhāng} {纸|zhǐ}”
“{两|liǎng} {张|zhāng} {照|zhào} {片|piàn}”
Bound Volumes
Used for books, magazines, or dictionaries.
“{一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū}”
“{两|liǎng} {本|běn} {杂|zá} {志|zhì}”
Reference Table
| 量詞 | 使い道 | 例文 |
|---|---|---|
|
{个|gè}
|
人、一般的な物、抽象的なこと
|
{一个人|yī gè rén} (1人の人)
|
|
{本|běn}
|
本、雑誌、綴じられたもの
|
{两本书|liǎng běn shū} (2冊の本)
|
|
{张|zhāng}
|
平らなもの（紙、机、チケット）
|
{三张纸|sān zhāng zhǐ} (3枚の紙)
|
|
{只|zhī}
|
小さな動物、ペアの片方（目、靴）
|
{一只猫|yī zhī māo} (1匹の猫)
|
|
{条|tiáo}
|
細長いもの（魚、ズボン、道）
|
{一条鱼|yī tiáo yú} (1匹の魚)
|
|
{件|jiàn}
|
服、出来事、プレゼント
|
{一件衣服|yī jiàn yīfu} (1着の服)
|
|
{杯|bēi}
|
コップやグラスに入った液体
|
{一杯茶|yī bēi chá} (1杯のお茶)
|
|
{块|kuài}
|
塊、断片、お金（口語）
|
{五块钱|wǔ kuài qián} (5元/5ドル)
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
{我|wǒ} {拥|yōng} {有|yǒu} {三|sān} {本|běn} {著|zhù} {作|zuò}。 (General)
{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} {三|sān} {本|běn} {书|shū}。 (General)
{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} {三|sān} {本|běn} {书|shū}。 (General)
{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} {三|sān} {本|běn} {书|shū}。 (General)
レベル別の例文
{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} {一|yī} {个|gè} {朋|péng} {友|yǒu}。
I have one friend.
{这|zhè} {是|shì} {一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū}。
This is a book.
{我|wǒ} {要|yào} {两|liǎng} {个|gè} {汉|hàn} {堡|bǎo}。
I want two burgers.
{那|nà} {是|shì} {一|yī} {张|zhāng} {照|zhào} {片|piàn}。
That is a photo.
{你|nǐ} {有|yǒu} {几|jǐ} {本|běn} {中|zhōng} {文|wén} {书|shū}？
How many Chinese books do you have?
{我|wǒ} {买|mǎi} {了|le} {三|sān} {张|zhāng} {电|diàn} {影|yǐng} {票|piào}。
I bought three movie tickets.
{他|tā} {有|yǒu} {两|liǎng} {个|gè} {弟|dì} {弟|di}。
He has two younger brothers.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ} {很|hěn} {甜|tián}。
This apple is very sweet.
{这|zhè} {本|běn} {小|xiǎo} {说|shuō} {我|wǒ} {看|kàn} {过|guò} {两|liǎng} {遍|biàn}。
I have read this novel twice.
{请|qǐng} {给|gěi} {我|wǒ} {一|yī} {张|zhāng} {空|kōng} {白|bái} {的|de} {纸|zhǐ}。
Please give me a blank sheet of paper.
{他|tā} {是|shì} {一|yī} {个|gè} {很|hěn} {有|yǒu} {才|cái} {华|huá} {的|de} {人|rén}。
He is a very talented person.
{这|zhè} {几|jǐ} {本|běn} {杂|zá} {志|zhì} {都|dōu} {是|shì} {新|xīn} {的|de}。
These few magazines are all new.
{那|nà} {一|yī} {张|zhāng} {桌|zhuō} {子|zi} {上|shàng} {放|fàng} {着|zhe} {一|yī} {本|běn} {词|cí} {典|diǎn}。
There is a dictionary on that table.
{每|měi} {一|yī} {个|gè} {人|rén} {都|dōu} {应|yīng} {该|gāi} {有|yǒu} {一|yī} {个|gè} {梦|mèng} {想|xiǎng}。
Everyone should have a dream.
{我|wǒ} {需|xū} {要|yào} {两|liǎng} {张|zhāng} {飞|fēi} {机|jī} {票|piào} {去|qù} {北|běi} {京|jīng}。
I need two plane tickets to Beijing.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {方|fāng} {案|àn} {有|yǒu} {三|sān} {个|gè} {优|yōu} {点|diǎn}。
This proposal has three advantages.
{这|zhè} {一|yī} {本|běn} {厚|hòu} {重|zhòng} {的|de} {历|lì} {史|shǐ} {书|shū} {记|jì} {载|zǎi} {了|le} {那|nà} {段|duàn} {岁|suì} {月|yuè}。
This thick history book records that era.
{他|tā} {拿|ná} {出|chū} {一|yī} {张|zhāng} {泛|fàn} {黄|huáng} {的|de} {地|dì} {图|tú}。
He took out a yellowed map.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {问|wèn} {题|tí} {的|de} {本|běn} {质|zhì} {在|zài} {于|yú} {沟|gōu} {通|tōng} {不|bù} {足|zú}。
The essence of this problem lies in poor communication.
{我|wǒ} {珍|zhēn} {藏|cáng} {了|le} {一|yī} {张|zhāng} {他|tā} {亲|qīn} {笔|bǐ} {签|qiān} {名|míng} {的|de} {照|zhào} {片|piàn}。
I treasure a photo signed by him.
{这|zhè} {一|yī} {个|gè} {细|xì} {微|wēi} {的|de} {差|chā} {别|bié} {往|wǎng} {往|wǎng} {被|bèi} {人|rén} {忽|hū} {略|lüè} {了|le}。
This subtle difference is often overlooked.
{那|nà} {一|yī} {本|běn} {古|gǔ} {籍|jí} {是|shì} {无|wú} {价|jià} {之|zhī} {宝|bǎo}。
That ancient book is a priceless treasure.
{他|tā} {在|zài} {纸|zhǐ} {上|shàng} {画|huà} {了|le} {一|yī} {张|zhāng} {草|cǎo} {图|tú}。
He drew a sketch on the paper.
{这|zhè} {个|gè} {概|gài} {念|niàn} {在|zài} {当|dāng} {代|dài} {语|yǔ} {境|jìng} {下|xià} {有|yǒu} {新|xīn} {的|de} {含|hán} {义|yì}。
This concept has new meaning in the contemporary context.
間違えやすい
Both are used for people.
Both mean two.
Both relate to flat things.
よくある間違い
{三|sān} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ}
{三|sān} {个|gè} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ}
{二|èr} {个|gè} {人|rén}
{两|liǎng} {个|gè} {人|rén}
{一|yī} {书|shū}
{一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū}
{个|gè} {人|rén}
{一|yī} {个|gè} {人|rén}
{一|yī} {张|zhāng} {书|shū}
{一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū}
{两|liǎng} {张|zhāng} {人|rén}
{两|liǎng} {个|gè} {人|rén}
{几|jǐ} {书|shū}
{几|jǐ} {本|běn} {书|shū}
{这|zhè} {书|shū}
{这|zhè} {本|běn} {书|shū}
{那|nà} {人|rén}
{那|nà} {个|gè} {人|rén}
{每|měi} {书|shū}
{每|měi} {一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū}
{一|yī} {个|gè} {书|shū}
{一|yī} {本|běn} {书|shū}
{三|sān} {本|běn} {桌|zhuō} {子|zi}
{三|sān} {张|zhāng} {桌|zhuō} {子|zi}
{一|yī} {张|zhāng} {词|cí} {典|diǎn}
{一|yī} {本|běn} {词|cí} {典|diǎn}
文型パターン
{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} ___ {个|gè} {朋|péng} {友|yǒu}。
{这|zhè} {里|lǐ} {有|yǒu} ___ {本|běn} {书|shū}。
{我|wǒ} {买|mǎi} {了|le} ___ {张|zhāng} {票|piào}。
{他|tā} {有|yǒu} ___ {个|gè} {优|yōu} {点|diǎn}。
Real World Usage
{两|liǎng} {个|gè} {汉|hàn} {堡|bǎo}
{一|yī} {个|gè} {人|rén} {去|qù}
{三|sān} {个|gè} {优|yōu} {点|diǎn}
{两|liǎng} {张|zhāng} {票|piào}
{一|yī} {本|běn} {好|hǎo} {书|shū}
{三|sān} {个|gè} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ}
困ったときの「个」
「2」のルールに注意
丁寧な数え方
Smart Tips
Always use {两|liǎng} instead of {二|èr}.
Default to {个|gè}.
Use {位|wèi} for people.
Use {张|zhāng}.
発音
Tone of {一|yī}
The number {一|yī} changes tone depending on the following word.
Tone of {两|liǎng}
Always 3rd tone.
Statement
Number + MW + Noun ↘
Neutral declarative
Question
Number + MW + Noun + {吗|ma} ↗
Yes/No question
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of the measure word as a 'container' or 'shape' for the noun. {个|gè} is a generic box, {本|běn} is a book-shaped box, and {张|zhāng} is a flat-sheet box.
視覚的連想
Imagine you are at a post office. You have a box ({个|gè}) for people, a bookshelf ({本|běn}) for books, and a flat envelope ({张|zhāng}) for paper.
Rhyme
Number, measure, then the noun, never let the measure down.
Story
I went to the store to buy one book. I said, 'I need one {本|běn} book.' Then I bought a table. I said, 'I need one {张|zhāng} table.' Finally, I bought a friend. I said, 'I need one {个|gè} friend.'
Word Web
チャレンジ
Look around your room and label 5 objects using the 'Number + Measure Word + Noun' pattern.
文化メモ
Standard Mandarin uses {个|gè} as the default. Using specific measure words is seen as educated.
Similar to Mandarin, but sometimes uses {位|wèi} more frequently for people to show respect.
Cantonese has its own set of classifiers, and they are used even more strictly than in Mandarin.
Measure words evolved from nouns that described the shape or container of the object being counted.
会話のきっかけ
{你|nǐ} {有|yǒu} {几|jǐ} {个|gè} {朋|péng} {友|yǒu}？
{你|nǐ} {桌|zhuō} {子|zi} {上|shàng} {有|yǒu} {几|jǐ} {本|běn} {书|shū}？
{你|nǐ} {今|jīn} {天|tiān} {买|mǎi} {了|le} {几|jǐ} {张|zhāng} {票|piào}？
{你|nǐ} {觉|jué} {得|de} {这|zhè} {个|gè} {方|fāng} {案|àn} {有|yǒu} {几|jǐ} {个|gè} {优|yōu} {点|diǎn}？
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
Score: /3
練習問題
8 exercises{我|wǒ} {有|yǒu} {三|sān} ___ {书|shū}。
___ {个|gè} {人|rén}
Find and fix the mistake:
{三|sān} {苹|píng} {果|guǒ}
{个|gè} / {人|rén} / {三|sān}
Book, Person, Paper
{这|zhè} ___ {人|rén}
{我|wǒ} {要|yào} {两|liǎng} ___ {照|zhào} {片|piàn}。
Find and fix the mistake:
{二|èr} {本|běn} {书|shū}
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercises{两___鱼|liǎng ___ yú} (2匹の魚)
「この1杯のお茶」はどう言いますか？
3 / 人 / {个|gè} / {三个|sān gè} / {人|rén}
1着の服
{五个纸|wǔ gè zhǐ} (5枚の紙)
本 / 猫 / コーヒー / シャツ
3人の先生について話すとき：
{那___猫很可爱。|Nà ___ māo hěn kě'ài.} (あの猫は可愛いです。)
2冊の本
{张|zhāng} を使うのはどれ？
Score: /10
よくある質問 (8)
They act as bridges between numbers and nouns, helping categorize objects.
No, it will sound unnatural and incorrect.
Use {个|gè}. It's the universal classifier.
Yes, when counting objects. {二|èr} is for numbers.
Almost, yes. Even abstract concepts can have them.
Chinese doesn't have plural noun forms; the number + measure word handles it.
No, classifiers can vary significantly by dialect.
Yes, 'this person' is {这|zhè} {个|gè} {人|rén}.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Articles/Quantifiers
Chinese classifiers are mandatory for all counts.
Partitive articles
Chinese classifiers are much more specific to object shape.
None
Chinese requires a classifier for every noun.
Counters (josuushi)
Japanese counters are often suffixes; Chinese classifiers are prefixes.
None
Chinese nouns don't change for plural.
Mandarin
None.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Related Grammar Rules
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