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Measure words: 个, 本, 杯 and friends

Between a number (or 这/那) and a noun you need a measure word: 三个人, 一本书, 两杯水.

Chinese cannot say "three people" directly. It says "three [unit] people": 三个人.

个 is the general measure word and works for people and many things. Others match the shape or type: 本 for books, 杯 for cups of drinks, 张 for flat things, 只 for many animals.

Use 两, not 二, before a measure word: 两个 "two".

Pattern: Number / 这 / 那 + measure word + noun

Practice this lesson

Updated October 21, 2026

Examples

• 我有两个妹妹。 Wǒ yǒu liǎng gè mèimei.
  I have two younger sisters.
• 请给我一杯水。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yì bēi shuǐ.
  Please give me a glass of water.

In real sentences

• 乾杯!
  Cheers!
  Tatoeba: Martha
• 别紧张。
  Don't be nervous.
  Tatoeba: ChinesePoster
• 念这个。
  Read this.
  Tatoeba: mirrorvan
• 听这个！
  Listen to this!
  Tatoeba: SbrAkr
• 这个多少？
  How much is it?
  Tatoeba: Sprachprofi
• 拿本书读！
  Take a book and read it.
  Tatoeba: fucongcong

Before this lesson

This unlocks after: HSK 1 Things and people 1, The four tones.

← 呢 (ne): "and you?" and ongoing actions想, 要, 会, 能: want, will, can →