Chinese Measure Words: The Complete List (200+)

Q: What is a measure word in Chinese?

A measure word, or 量词 (liàngcí), is a classifier that must go between a number (or 这/那) and a noun in Chinese. You can't say 'three book' — you say 三本书 (sān běn shū), with 本 (běn) as the measure word for bound volumes. Every noun has a preferred measure word, and choosing the right one is part of sounding natural.

Q: How many measure words are there in Chinese?

There are several hundred measure words in Chinese, though everyday speech relies on around 20–50 common ones. This page lists over 200, including nominal classifiers (like 个, 只, 条), verbal measure words (动量词, like 次, 遍, 下), and standard units of measure (like 斤, 米, 度). If you ever forget the right one, 个 (gè) is the safe general default.

Q: What is the most common Chinese measure word?

个 (gè) is by far the most common — it's the general, all-purpose classifier and the safe fallback when you don't know the specific one (一个人, 一个苹果, 一个问题). Native speakers understand 个 with almost any noun, though using the precise measure word (like 本 for books or 张 for flat things) sounds more polished.

Q: What is a verbal measure word in Chinese?

A verbal measure word (动量词, dòngliàngcí) counts how many times an action happens, and it follows the verb: 次 (cì, times), 遍 (biàn, times all the way through), 趟 (tàng, trips), and 下 (xià, quick actions) are the main ones. For example 我去过三次 (I've been three times) and 请再说一遍 (please say it once more).

Q: Do you always need a measure word in Chinese?

Almost always — whenever you count a noun or point to it with 这 (this) or 那 (that), you need a measure word: 一张纸, 这本书, 那只猫. The main exceptions are nouns that are themselves units of measure (三天, 五年, 两斤) and a few abstract nouns used with 些 or without counting.

How this works: a Chinese measure word (量词, liàngcí) sits between a number and a noun — 三本书 (sān běn shū, “three books”). Every noun has a preferred one. Below are 200+ classifiers, verbal measure words, and units, grouped so you can find the right one fast. Forgot which to use? 个 (gè) is the safe default. Tap to hear any measure word. New here? Start with the friendlier Essential Measure Words guide.

Jump to: General · Shape & form · Round & botanical · Animals · People & groups · Containers & portions · Portions, layers & lines · Nature · Clothing · Buildings & vehicles · Tools & objects · Language & documents · Events & abstract · Verbal (动量词) · Units of measure

1. General Classifiers

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
1	个	gè	the all-purpose default (人, 苹果, 问题, 想法)
2	位	wèi	people, politely (老师, 客人, 先生)
3	名	míng	people by role or rank (学生, 医生, 运动员)
4	只	zhī	most animals; one of a pair (猫, 鸟, 手, 鞋)
5	头	tóu	livestock & large animals; garlic (牛, 猪, 象, 蒜)
6	匹	pǐ	horses; bolts of cloth (马, 骆驼, 布)
7	条	tiáo	long, thin, flexible things (鱼, 河, 路, 裤子, 狗, 命)
8	张	zhāng	flat surfaces (纸, 桌子, 床, 票, 照片, 嘴)
9	支	zhī	thin stick-like things; songs; teams (笔, 烟, 枪, 歌)
10	根	gēn	long, thin, rigid things (针, 头发, 香蕉, 绳子, 火柴)
11	本	běn	bound volumes (书, 杂志, 护照, 词典)
12	件	jiàn	upper garments, matters, luggage (衣服, 事, 行李)
13	把	bǎ	things with a handle; handfuls (刀, 伞, 椅子, 钥匙; 米)

2. Shape & Form — Flat, Sheet & Chunk

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
14	片	piàn	thin flat slices; a stretch of (面包, 药, 叶子, 云, 草地)
15	面	miàn	flat rigid objects (镜子, 墙, 旗, 鼓, 锣)
16	幅	fú	paintings & spans of cloth (画, 字, 布, 地图)
17	版	bǎn	printed pages / editions (报纸)
18	页	yè	pages (书, 纸)
19	方	fāng	square objects (手帕, 砚台, 印章, 土)
20	块	kuài	chunks, slabs, pieces; money (肥皂, 蛋糕, 石头, 表, 钱)
21	帧	zhēn	frames of an image (画面, 图)

3. Round, Tiny & Botanical

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
22	颗	kē	small round things (星, 心, 牙, 子弹, 珠, 种子, 钻石)
23	粒	lì	grains & tiny round things (米, 沙, 药, 葡萄)
24	滴	dī	drops (水, 血, 泪, 油)
25	朵	duǒ	flowers & clouds (花, 云, 蘑菇, 浪花)
26	瓣	bàn	petals & natural segments (花瓣, 蒜, 橘子)
27	棵	kē	trees & standing plants (树, 草, 白菜)
28	株	zhū	plants & seedlings (树, 苗, 牡丹)
29	枝	zhī	flowering branches / twigs (花, 玫瑰, 梅)
30	团	tuán	round lumps & masses; troupes (毛线, 面, 火, 云)
31	堆	duī	piles & heaps (垃圾, 书, 沙, 火, 人)
32	撮	cuō	pinches (盐, 土; a handful of 坏人)

4. Animals (specialized)

Most animals take 只, 头, 条 or 匹 above. These are the special cases:

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
33	峰	fēng	camels (骆驼)
34	尾	wěi	fish (literary) (鱼)
35	群	qún	herds, flocks & crowds (羊, 牛, 鸟, 鱼, 人)
36	窝	wō	litters, broods & nests (小猫, 鸡, 蜜蜂, 土匪)

5. People, Groups & Pairs

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
37	帮	bāng	bands & gangs of people (朋友, 孩子, 人)
38	伙	huǒ	bands / crews (人, 强盗)
39	拨	bō	batches / groups of people (客人, 人)
40	波	bō	waves of (人, 攻击, 疫情)
41	批	pī	batches (货, 学生, 游客)
42	队	duì	teams & files (人, 士兵)
43	班	bān	classes; scheduled runs (学生; 飞机, 车)
44	代	dài	generations (人)
45	茬	chá	batches / crops in rotation (韭菜, 人)
46	桌	zhuō	tables of guests or food (客人, 菜, 酒席)
47	对	duì	natural pairs (夫妻, 情侣, 耳环, 翅膀)
48	双	shuāng	worn pairs (鞋, 袜子, 手, 筷子, 眼睛)
49	副	fù	sets; facial expressions (眼镜, 手套, 扑克; 面孔)
50	套	tào	sets & suites (房子, 家具, 衣服, 邮票, 理论)
51	组	zǔ	groups & sets (数据, 电池, 镜头)
52	打	dá	a dozen (loanword) (铅笔, 鸡蛋)

6. Containers & Portions (borrowed measure words)

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
53	杯	bēi	cups & glasses of (水, 茶, 咖啡, 酒)
54	瓶	píng	bottles of (水, 啤酒, 牛奶)
55	碗	wǎn	bowls of (饭, 汤, 面)
56	盘	pán	plates & dishes of; games (菜; 棋)
57	碟	dié	small plates of (菜, 小吃)
58	锅	guō	potfuls (汤, 饭, 粥)
59	壶	hú	pots of (茶, 水, 酒)
60	罐	guàn	cans & jars of (可乐, 果酱)
61	桶	tǒng	buckets & barrels of (水, 油, 爆米花)
62	袋	dài	bags & sacks of (米, 面, 薯片)
63	包	bāo	packs & bundles of (烟, 糖, 纸巾)
64	盒	hé	boxes of (火柴, 巧克力, 饭)
65	箱	xiāng	crates & cases of (书, 苹果, 啤酒)
66	筐	kuāng	baskets of (菜, 水果)
67	篮	lán	baskets of (鸡蛋, 花)
68	盆	pén	basins & pots of (水, 花, 火)
69	勺	sháo	spoonfuls of (糖, 油, 汤)
70	口	kǒu	mouthfuls; people in a family; wells (饭, 水; 人; 井)
71	串	chuàn	strings & clusters of (葡萄, 钥匙, 鞭炮, 羊肉)
72	束	shù	bunches & bouquets; beams (花, 光, 头发)
73	扎	zā	a bundle of; a mug of (花, 头发; 啤酒)
74	卷	juǎn	rolls of (纸, 胶卷, 铺盖)

7. Portions, Layers, Lines & Wisps

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
75	份	fèn	portions & copies (报纸, 礼物, 工作, 快餐, 合同)
76	顿	dùn	meals; bouts of (饭; 打, 骂, 批评)
77	剂	jì	doses of herbal medicine (药, 中药)
78	段	duàn	segments & stretches (路, 时间, 话, 音乐, 感情, 历史)
79	节	jié	sections & periods (课, 车厢, 电池, 甘蔗)
80	截	jié	cut chunks / lengths (木头, 路, 铅笔)
81	层	céng	layers & floors (楼, 灰, 皮, 意思)
82	叠	dié	stacks of flat things (纸, 钞票, 文件)
83	沓	dá	a wad / sheaf of (钞票, 纸)
84	摞	luò	stacks of (书, 碗, 砖)
85	行	háng	lines & rows (字, 树, 泪)
86	排	pái	rows (椅子, 房子, 树, 牙)
87	列	liè	trains & ordered rows (火车)
88	道	dào	things in lines; courses; commands (河, 光, 题, 菜, 命令, 门, 伤疤, 彩虹)
89	缕	lǚ	wisps & strands (烟, 阳光, 头发, 情丝)
90	绺	liǔ	locks / hanks of (头发, 胡子, 丝线)
91	丝	sī	threads & tiny amounts (笑容, 风, 光, 凉意)
92	抹	mǒ	a touch / streak of (阳光, 微笑, 红晕)
93	线	xiàn	a ray / thread of (希望, 光, 生机)

8. Nature & Scenery

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
94	池	chí	a pool of (水, 春水)
95	潭	tán	a (deep) pool of (水, 死水)
96	汪	wāng	a small pool of (水, 泪, 血)
97	眼	yǎn	wells & springs (井, 泉)
98	轮	lún	round celestial bodies; rounds (月亮, 红日; 比赛)
99	弯	wān	a crescent of (月亮)
100	处	chù	spots & places (地方, 伤, 风景, 错误)

9. Clothing & Accessories

Plus 件 (tops), 条 (pants/skirts/scarves), 双 (shoes/socks) and 副 (gloves/glasses) above.

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
101	顶	dǐng	things with a top (帽子, 帐篷, 蚊帐, 轿子)
102	身	shēn	a suit of; a covering of (衣服, 西装; 泥, 力气, 本领)
103	领	lǐng	robes & mats (literary) (旗袍, 席)
104	袭	xí	suits of clothing (literary) (长袍, 衣服)

10. Buildings, Places & Vehicles

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
105	座	zuò	large immovable structures (山, 桥, 城市, 楼, 庙, 雕像)
106	栋	dòng	buildings (楼, 房子)
107	幢	zhuàng	buildings (楼房, 别墅)
108	间	jiān	rooms (房间, 卧室, 教室, 病房)
109	所	suǒ	institutions & houses (学校, 医院, 房子, 大学)
110	家	jiā	establishments & businesses (商店, 公司, 银行, 餐厅)
111	辆	liàng	wheeled vehicles (车, 自行车, 公交车, 卡车)
112	部	bù	films, machines, works (电影, 手机, 电视剧, 小说, 车)
113	台	tái	machines & appliances; performances (电脑, 电视, 机器; 演出)
114	架	jià	aircraft & framed machines (飞机, 钢琴, 相机)
115	艘	sōu	ships & boats (船, 军舰, 潜水艇)

11. Tools, Weapons & Other Objects

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
116	盏	zhǎn	lamps & lights (灯, 油灯, 台灯)
117	杆	gǎn	things with a shaft (枪, 秤, 旗)
118	挺	tǐng	machine guns (机枪)
119	门	mén	artillery pieces; courses; skills (炮; 课, 技术, 语言, 亲事)
120	尊	zūn	statues & cannons (佛像, 雕像, 大炮)
121	具	jù	corpses, coffins & some apparatus (尸体, 棺材, 电话)

12. Language, Media & Documents

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
122	句	jù	sentences & lines (话, 诗, 歌词)
123	首	shǒu	songs & poems (歌, 诗, 曲子)
124	篇	piān	articles & essays (文章, 论文, 报道, 日记)
125	则	zé	items of news / notices (新闻, 消息, 笑话, 广告, 寓言)
126	项	xiàng	items & tasks (任务, 工作, 规定, 运动, 技能, 发明)
127	册	cè	volumes & copies (书, 相册, 名册)
128	卷	juàn	volumes, scrolls & exam papers (书, 画, 试卷)
129	封	fēng	sealed letters & messages (信, 电报, 邮件)
130	帖	tiě	invitation cards (请帖, 喜帖)
131	幕	mù	acts & scenes (话剧, 场景)
132	出	chū	plays & operas (戏, 京剧, 悲剧)
133	折	zhé	acts in classical zaju opera (戏)
134	回	huí	chapters of a classical novel (章回小说)
135	集	jí	episodes (电视剧, 动画, 连续剧)

13. Events & Abstract Nouns

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
136	桩	zhuāng	matters & affairs (事, 心事, 买卖, 案子)
137	起	qǐ	cases & incidents (事故, 案件, 火灾, 纠纷)
138	宗	zōng	cases & sums (事, 买卖, 心事, 案子)
139	场	chǎng	events & spells (电影, 比赛, 雨, 病, 战争, 梦)
140	阵	zhèn	bursts & spells (风, 雨, 掌声, 疼, 咳嗽)
141	番	fān	rounds of effort / words (话, 心意, 努力, 景象)
142	通	tòng	bouts of talking / scolding; phone calls (电话, 骂, 议论)
143	声	shēng	sounds & utterances (叫, 问候, 巨响, 枪响)
144	记	jì	a slap / blow (耳光)

14. Verbal Measure Words (动量词)

These count how many times an action happens and come after the verb.

#	量词	Pinyin	Counts / used for
145	次	cì	times / occurrences (去过一次, 打三次)
146	遍	biàn	times, all the way through (读一遍, 看两遍)
147	趟	tàng	trips (去一趟, 跑三趟)
148	下	xià	quick actions / brief counts (敲三下, 等一下)
149	遭	zāo	a time round (走一遭, 白跑一遭)
150	巡	xún	rounds of drinks (酒过三巡)
151	脚	jiǎo	kicks (踢一脚)
152	拳	quán	punches (打一拳)
153	掌	zhǎng	slaps with the palm (打一掌)
154	觉	jiào	a sleep (睡一觉, 睡了个好觉)
155	步	bù	steps (走几步, 退一步)
156	手	shǒu	a display of skill (一手好菜, 留一手)
157	招	zhāo	moves & tricks (一招, 高招)

15. Standard Units of Measure

Length

#	量词	Pinyin	Unit
158	毫米	háomǐ	millimeter
159	厘米	límǐ	centimeter
160	米	mǐ	meter
161	公里	gōnglǐ	kilometer
162	寸	cùn	Chinese inch (~3.3 cm)
163	尺	chǐ	Chinese foot (~33 cm)
164	丈	zhàng	10 Chinese feet (~3.3 m)
165	里	lǐ	Chinese mile (500 m)
166	英尺	yīngchǐ	foot (imperial)
167	英里	yīnglǐ	mile (imperial)

Weight

#	量词	Pinyin	Unit
168	克	kè	gram
169	公斤	gōngjīn	kilogram
170	斤	jīn	catty (500 g)
171	两	liǎng	tael (50 g)
172	吨	dūn	metric ton
173	磅	bàng	pound

Volume & Area

#	量词	Pinyin	Unit
174	毫升	háoshēng	milliliter
175	升	shēng	liter
176	加仑	jiālún	gallon
177	平方米	píngfāngmǐ	square meter
178	亩	mǔ	mu (~667 m², land area)
179	公顷	gōngqǐng	hectare
180	立方米	lìfāngmǐ	cubic meter

Time

#	量词	Pinyin	Unit
181	秒	miǎo	second
182	分钟	fēnzhōng	minute
183	刻	kè	quarter-hour (15 min)
184	小时	xiǎoshí	hour
185	点	diǎn	o'clock
186	天	tiān	day
187	日	rì	day (formal)
188	周	zhōu	week
189	月	yuè	month
190	年	nián	year
191	岁	suì	year of age

Money & Proportion

#	量词	Pinyin	Unit
192	元	yuán	yuan (formal)
193	块	kuài	yuan (spoken)
194	角	jiǎo	0.1 yuan (formal)
195	毛	máo	0.1 yuan (spoken)
196	分	fēn	0.01 yuan (cent); a mark; a minute of arc
197	倍	bèi	-fold / times as much (三倍)
198	成	chéng	10 percent (八成 = 80%)
199	折	zhé	discount in tenths (打八折 = 20% off)
200	度	dù	degrees; kilowatt-hours (温度; 电)
201	令	lìng	ream of paper (500 sheets)
202	味	wèi	ingredients in a herbal remedy (药)

Don't try to memorize all 200 at once. Learn the ~20 workhorses first (个, 位, 只, 条, 张, 本, 件, 把, 块, 杯, 瓶, 双, 次, 遍…), always pair a new noun with its measure word when you learn it, and fall back on 个 whenever you're unsure — you'll still be understood. Test yourself with the Measure Word Quiz.

Hear every measure word in the Interactive Pinyin Chart, build counted phrases in our English to Chinese Translator, and get the gentle introduction in Essential Chinese Measure Words.

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