Upgrade your basic Chinese measure words knowledge now!
We’ve already looked at some basic Chinese measure words before. But now it’s time for an upgrade! We don’t settle.
Check out our handy video below to learn some special measure words and example sentences.
If you’re feeling brave after, why not check out our free trial classes to get you ready to take the HSK test?
杯 Cup & 碗 Bowl
杯 (bēi) means “cup”, and 碗 (wǎn) means “bowl”, and they can work as measure words.
For example:
◾️ 一杯茶
◾️ yī bēi chá
◾️ a cup of tea
◾️ 一碗米饭
◾️ yī wǎn mǐfàn
◾️ a bowl of rice
身 Body
身 (shēn) means “body”, but it can also be used as a measure word when talking about a “set” of clothes.
For example:
◾️ 今天我穿了一身黑色的衣服
◾️ Jīntiān wǒ chuānle yī shēn hēisè de yīfu
◾️ I’m all dressed in black today (“from head to toe”, “whole body”)
◾️ Today-I-wear-one-body-black-clothes
头 Head
头 (tóu) means “head”, but it can also be used as a measure word:
– to count cattle, 一头牛 (yī tóu niú) “one cow” 🐄
– to count garlic, 一头蒜 (yī tóu suàn) “one head of garlic”
– or it can be used with people, for example:
◾️ 今天太热了，我出了一头的汗
◾️ Jīntiān tài rèle, wǒ chūle yī tóu de hàn
◾️ Today is too hot, I’m sweating all over
◾️ Today-too-hot, I-release-one-head-sweat
脸 Face
脸 (liǎn) means “face”, but it can also be used as a measure word when it comes to facial expressions.
For example, you can:
◾️ 有一脸的问号
◾️ yǒu yī liǎn de wènhào
◾️ to be completely at a loss / to look startled
◾️ to have-one-face-question-mark
Chinese measure words ready
Feeling ready to take on the world? Good!
Before you do though, why not check out some other blog posts? You’re already on a roll after all…
We recommend taking a look at the commonly mixed up past tense in Chinese, or the amusing Chinese loan words. Only the brave should check our Chinese Tongue Twisters though… 😉
You can let us know in the comments or on our social media your new practice sentences when you’re ready to review your Chinese measure words!
