List of Chinese classifiers

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In the tables, the first two columns contain the Chinese characters representing the classifier, in traditional and simplified versions when they differ. The next four columns give pronunciations in Standard (Mandarin) Chinese, using pinyin; Cantonese, in Jyutping and Yale, respectively; and Minnan (Taiwan). The last column gives the classifier's literal meaning (in quotes) and principal uses.

Nominal classifiers[edit]

Classifiers proper[edit]

Trad. Simp. Mandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese (Jyutping) Cantonese
(Yale)
Minnan Meaning and principal uses
baa2 ba2 "grip" — objects with handle-like parts (knives , scissors 剪刀, swords /, keys 鑰匙/钥匙, pistols 手槍/手枪, chairs 椅子, flaming torches or sticks )
běn bun2 bun2 pún "volume" — bound print matter (books /, etc.)
bung6 bung6 walls (Cantonese only)
bou6 bou6 phō "part" — novels 小說/小说, movies 電影/电影, TV dramas etc.; vehicles (一部大巴); Cantonese only: machines
/ / caak3 chaak3 tsheh volumes of books ( is more common in Traditional Chinese, in Simplified)
céng cang4 chang4 tsàn "layer" — cakes, optical discs, etc.; stories of buildings
chǎng coeng4 cheung4 tiûnn "stage" — public spectacles, games 比賽/比赛, drama /, film 電影/电影, etc.
chù cyu3 chyu3 tshú "location", "site" — ruins 廢墟/废墟, construction site 工地, etc.
chū ceot1 cheut1 tshut "performance", "show" — plays /, circus 馬戲/马戏, etc.
ci3 chi3 tshù "time" — opportunities 機會/机会, accidents 事故
dào dou6 dou6 linear projections (light rays 亮光, etc.), orders given by an authority figure 命令, courses (of food) 點心/点心, walls and doors /, questions /, number of times (for certain procedures) 工序
dǐng deng2 deng2 tíng objects with protruding top (hats 帽子, etc.)
dòng dung6 dung6 tòng "pillar" — buildings 房子
dou6 dou6 tóo walls and encompassing fixtures /
dùn doen6 deun6 tǹg meals /
duǒ do2/doe2 do2/deu2 luí flowers , clouds /
faat3 faat3 huat projectile weapons, such as bullets 子彈/子弹, artillery shells 炮彈/炮弹, rockets, guided missiles etc.
fèn fan6 fan6 hūn "copy" — newspapers 報紙/报纸, notarized document 公證/公证, contract 合同
fēng fung1 fung1 hong letters , mail, fax 傳真/传真
fuk1 fuk1 pak "width" — paintings 畫兒/画儿; curtains; tapestries; photographs or prints (particularly when mounted and displayed on a wall)
gǎn gon3 gon3 kuáinn objects with "pole" (spears /, balance scales, steelyard balance)
ge (gè) go3 go3 ê individual things, people — generic measure word (usage of this classifier in conjunction with any noun is generally accepted if the person does not know the proper classifier)
gēn gan1 gan1 kun thin, slender, pole, stick objects (needles /, pillars 支柱, telegraph poles, matchsticks, etc.); strands /(e.g. hair 頭髮/头发)
hào hou6 hou6 people, workmen (一百多号人/一百多號人); business deals (几号买卖/幾號買賣)[1][2][3][4]
jiā gaa1 ga1 gathering of people (families 人家, companies 公司, etc.), establishments (shops 商店, restaurants 酒店, hotels 飯店/饭店)
jià gaa3 ga3 aircraft 飛機/飞机, pianos , machines 儀器/仪器
jiān gaan1 gaan1 king rooms 屋子, ; Cantonese only: stores, companies
jiàn gin6 gin6 kiānn matters (affairs 事情), clothing 衣裳, etc.
jiè gaai3 gaai3 kài recurring, often annual, conferences /, class years in a school (e.g. Class of 2006) 畢業生/毕业生
juǎn gyun2 gyun2 kńg "roll" — film 膠卷/胶卷, toilet paper 手紙/手纸
fo2 fo2 trees (/) and other such flora
fo2 fo2 "kernel" — small objects (beans, hearts , pearls 珠子, teeth 牙齒/牙齿, diamonds 鑽石/钻石, etc.) pillows, and objects appearing to be small (distant stars 星星 and planets 星球)
[[]] kǒu hau2 hau2 people in villages , family members; wells ; blade
lèi leoi6 leui6 luī objects of the same type or category — affair 事情, circumstance 情況/情况
lap1 lap1 lia̍p "grain", small objects such as a grain of rice
liàng loeng2 leung2 wheeled vehicles: automobiles 汽車/汽车, bicycles 自行車/自行车, etc.
liè lit6 lit6 "array" — trains 火車/火车
lún leon4 leun4 "round" — competition 比賽/比赛, discussions 會談/会谈; moon 明月
méi mui4 mui4 small, flat objects (coins, medals, stamps);

small, round jewelry (rings 戒指, diamonds 鑽石/钻石);

projectiles (bombs 炸彈/炸弹, grenades 手榴彈/手榴弹, rockets, satellites); eggs

mén mun4 mun4 "gate" — areas of knowledge (courses /, languages 語言/语言, majors 專業/专业, etc.), also for artillery pieces 大砲/大炮.
miàn min6 min6 "surface" — flat objects (mirrors 鏡子/镜子, flags 旗子, etc.)
míng ming4 ming4 honorific, or persons with perceived higher social rank (doctors 醫生/医生, lawyers 律師/律师, politicians, royalty, etc.); in formal occasions or in literary Chinese, also used for any type of person (not necessarily high-ranking, e.g. mother 母親)
pán pun4 pun4 puânn flat objects (video cassettes 錄影帶/录影带, etc.); literally means "dishes" and can be used for a plate of food
pào, pāo paau1 paau1 classifiers for liquid extractions (tea , urine 尿)
pat1 pat1 horses / and other mounts; also rolls/bolts of cloth
pet6 pet6 (Cantonese only) small pile of thick, viscous substance — mud, feces, etc.
piān pin1 pin1 phinn written work: papers 論文/论文, articles 文章, novels etc.
piàn pin3 pin3 phìnn "slice" — flat objects, cards, slices of bread 麵包/面包, etc.
po1 po1 (Cantonese only) trees (/) and other such flora
hei2 hei2 case, instance (两起大脑炎); batch, group (分两起出发)[5][6][7][8]
shàn sin3 sin3 doors /, windows 窗戶/窗户.
shǒu sau2 sau2 songs , poems /, music 曲子, etc.
shuǐ seoi2 seui2 washings/rinsings (这件衬衫洗了三水了)[9][10]
sōu sau2 sau2 ships
suǒ so2 so2 for buildings whose purposes are explicitly stated, e.g. hospitals 醫院/医院. Otherwise can use ""
/ tái toi4 toi4 tâi heavy objects, esp. machines (TVs 電視機/电视机, computers 電腦/电脑, etc.); performances (theatre 話劇/话剧, etc.)
táng tong4 tong4 periods of classes / (e.g. "I have two classes today"), suites of furniture
tàng tong3 tong3 trips (usually repetitive), scheduled transportation services — flights 班機/班机
tai4 tai4 test/exam questions
tǐng ting5, ting2 ting5 thán machine guns 機槍
tiáo tiu4 tiu4 tiâu "strip"; long, narrow, flexible objects — (fish /, dogs , trousers 褲子/裤子, etc.), also for roads and rivers , pertaining to human lives, e.g. "兩條人命" two (human) lives, "一條心", lit. "one heart" (to work as one), classifiers for certain things like counter-measures, etc.
tóu tau4 tau4 "head" — domesticated animals 家畜 (pigs /, cows , etc.), hair (only used alongside a modifier)
wěi mei5 mei5 bué "tail" — fish / (ancient)
wèi wai2 wai2 polite classifier for people (attached to positions, not names) — workers 工人, director 主任
xiàng hong6 hong6 hāng "item" — items, projects — initiative 倡議/倡议, ordinances 法令, statements 聲明/声明
宿 xiǔ suk1 suk1 nights, overnight stays (住一宿)[11][12][13]
yàng joeng6 yeung6 general items of differing attributes
𠹻 zam6 jam6 (Cantonese only) odor
zak1 jak1 sections of text — notice 消息, jokes 笑話/笑话, news 新聞/新闻, etc.
zhǎn zaan2 jaan2 light fixtures (usually lamps /), pot of tea etc.
zhāng zoeng1 jeung1 tiunn "sheet" — flat objects (paper /, tables 桌子, etc.), faces /, bows, paintings 圖畫/图画, tickets , constellations, blankets, bedsheets 床單/床单; Cantonese only: chairs
zhī zek3 jek3 one of a pair (hands , legs); animals (birds /, cats /, etc.)
zhī zi1 ji1 fairly long, stick-like objects (pens /, chopsticks, roses, rifles /, etc.), fleets 舰队/艦隊
zhī zi1 ji1 ki alternative form of ("stalk"): can be used for rifles / and flowers
zhǒng zung2 jung2 tsióng types or kinds of objects (animals 動物/动物)
zhū zyu1 jyu1 trees /
zhù cyu5 chyu5 incense
zūn zyun1 jyun1 statues
zuò zo6 jo6 tsō large mansion 大厦; mountains ;

Measure words/massifiers[edit]

Trad. Simp. Mandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese (Jyutping) Cantonese
(Yale)
Meaning and principal uses
baa2 ba2 "handful" (beans, flour, rice, sand);

"bunch"/"bundle" (chopsticks, matches, sticks);

"bunch"/"hand" (bananas, carrots, flowers, scallions)

bān baan1 baan1 classifier for scheduled transport services (trains 火車/火车, bus 公交, subway 地鐵/地铁, etc.); group of people; class as in pupils 學生/学生
bāng bong1 bong1 group of people (children 孩子, friends 朋友, etc.);

"gang", band of (bandits 匪徒, bad men 壞蛋/坏蛋, etc.)

bāo baau1 baau1 "packet" (cookies 餅乾/饼干, cigarettes 香煙/香烟, French fries 薯條/薯条, screws, etc.)
bēi bui1 bui1 "cup" — container (cup, glass, mug, beaker, etc.) of liquid
bèi bui3 bui3 "generation", "lifetime" (people )
bat1 bat1 large quantities of money (money /, funds 資金/资金, account items 賬目/账目)
chuàn cyun3 chyun3 "string" — sequence of numbers 號碼/号码; pearls 珍珠; grapes 葡萄, skewer/stick (kebabs, satays, etc.)
chuáng cong4 chong4 "bed" — blankets 毯子, sheets, quilt
daap6 daap6 a "stack" of (e.g. paper, or any other paper-like things)
dài doi6 doi6 "bag" — sackfuls, pouchfuls, bagfuls, pocketfuls (flour 麵粉/面粉, French fries 薯條/薯条, cements 水泥, etc.)
dàn daam6 daam6 (Cantonese only) "mouthful" — amount of food
/ di1 di1 (Cantonese only) "some", "a bit" — general massifier. Only used in the form 一啲, or without a number (e.g. after demonstratives).
dik6 dik6 "droplet" (water , blood 鮮血/鲜血, other such fluids)
diǎn dim2 dim2 ideas 意見/意见, suggestions; can also mean "a bit" (often used to denote amount) — e.g. courage 膽量/胆量
duàn dyun6 dyun6 "length" — cables 電線/电线, roadways , part as in a drama 臺詞/台词, etc.
duī deoi3 deui3 "pile" — trash 垃圾, sand 沙子, etc.
duì deoi3 deui3 "pair" — "couple" 夫妻, "partner" 搭檔/搭档, ring 戒指, earrings 耳環/耳环, bracelet 手鐲/手镯; Cantonese only: pair of objects which naturally come in pairs (e.g. chopsticks 筷子, shoes , etc.)
fuk6 fuk6 "dose" (medicine /)
fu3 fu3 "set" — objects which come in pairs (gloves 手套, insole, couplets, etc.) also for spectacles/glasses 眼鏡/眼镜, mahjong 麻將/麻将, Chinese chess 象棋; pack of cards
gu2 gu2 flows (of air /, smell 香味, influence 潮流, etc.)
𫩥 (nonstandard)
(official)
gau6 gau6 (Cantonese only) "piece of", "chunk of" — rock, soap, ginger, charcoal, rice, etc.
guǎn gun2 gun2 "tube" — toothpaste and things that comes in tubes
guàn gun3 gun3 for canned beverages (e.g. soda), milk powder, sardine, etc.; also for air tank, nitrogen tank, etc.
háng hong4 hong4 "row" — objects which form lines (words /, etc.); occupations in a field (idiom, spoken language); could also be pronounced as xíng, see below.
hap6 hap6 objects in a small "box" or case (e.g. mooncakes, tapes)
/ wu6 wu6 households ( is common in handwritten Traditional Chinese) — household 人家
wu4 wu4 liquids (usually drink) in a "pot" (tea, or sometimes rice wine) or kettle (usually water)
huǒ fo2 fo2 bands of people such as gangs or hoodlums (when heard it as classifier from news it is mostly derogatory); group of people (non-derogatory in some dialect)
zai1 jai1 "dose" (medicine /)
jié zit3 jit3 "section" of bamboo 竹子, sugarcane, etc.; branch of tree; a class period at school /; columnar batteries, carriages of train (look like a section of bamboo)
geoi3 geui3 "sentences" 句子, quotes 引用, lines 臺詞/台词, etc.
[[]] kǒu hau2 hau2 "mouthful" — amount of food
kuài faai3 faai3 "chunk", "lump", "piece" — land , stones 石頭/石头, cake 蛋糕 (piece/slice), bread (not slices) 麵包/面包, candy , tofu 豆腐, etc.; yuan (widely used in spoken language)
kǔn kwan2 kwan2 sets of bundled objects, usually pole-, rope- or stick-like stuffs (e.g. matchsticks 火柴, straw, wire, etc.)
liǎ loeng5 leung5 sometimes used informally instead of 两个 (liǎng ge), to mean "two" (especially two things or people that are close to one another)
luò (luǒ) lo3, lo6 lo3, lo6 set of objects either be "stacked" (a stack of, e.g. books /) or be piled (a pile of, e.g. bricks /)
leoi5 leui5 "strand" — hair, smoke /, wind /
pái paai4 paai4 "row" — seats 座位, lanterns 燈籠/灯笼, aspen, etc.
pai1 pai1 "shipment" — used when a large number of people (e.g. pupils) coming (e.g. entrance) or leaving (e.g. graduate) during the same period; also used for large amount of commodity, mass-produced objects (products 產品/产品, laptops, etc.) or supplies.
píng ping4 ping4 objects in "bottle", vial, or flask. usually not too large so that people could takes by hands (e.g. lemonade, water, troche, etc.)
kei4 kei4 (issues of) periodicals 期刊, magazine 雜誌/杂志
qún kwan4 kwan4 "group" (people, students 學生/学生, etc.), "herd" (e.g. birds /, horse /, etc.)
saam1 saam1 sometimes used informally instead of 三个 to mean "three", "three of"
shù cuk1 chuk1 "bundle" of flowers ; light , laser.
shuāng soeng1 seung1 "pair" — chopsticks 筷子, shoes , etc.
tào tou3 tou3 "set" — books /, teaware 茶具, collectibles, clothes 衣裳, etc.
() tīng ting1 ting1 for canned beverages (e.g. soda, cola)
"tin" ("" is common and informal in handwriting Traditional Chinese) — A recent loanword that have involved in Mandarin from Cantonese
tuán tyun4 tyun4 "ball" — (balls of yarn 毛線/毛线, cotton, etc.)
tuó to4 to4 "lump" — mud , feces 糞便/粪便
wǎn wun2 wun2 for food in "bowl" (e.g. soup /, rice 米飯/米饭, congee , wonton 餛飩/馄饨)
xiē se1 se1 "some" — general massifier. Only used in the form 一些, or without a number (e.g. after demonstratives).
xíng hang4 hang4 groups of people traveling together, such as a trade commission or diplomats and aides visiting a foreign country: "国王一行人离开巴黎后十分兴奋" (having left Paris, the king and entourage were very excited). Note: almost only used in the form 一行人. — is also read háng, see above.
zaap3 jaap3 number of revolutions
zhā zaa1 ja1 In Cantonese usage, this is used in lieu of shù (), e.g. a bundle of flowers
"jar", "jug" — beverages such as beer, soda, juice, etc. (A recent loan-word from English, it may be considered informal or slang.)
zhèn zan6 jan6 "gust", "burst" — events with short durations (e.g. lightning storms, gusts of wind /, etc.)
zhù zyu3 jyu3 a "pour" of water, tea (liquid); a "bet" — lottery 彩票
zou2 jou2 "set" — general mass-classifier for sets of objects (sets of, e.g. batteries 電池/电池, planets 行星, variables 變量/变量, data 数据/數據, objects 對象/对象, words /, or any sensible thing you want to name). A set is usually assumed to have two or more objects.
But there are also exceptions: depends on what object the classifier is used for, the quantity of objects in sets may be assumed without context. When assumed, the classifier usually falls back to play a similar role to either /, or /对: for example, when used for certain objects that come in pairs, e.g. 搭檔/搭档, represented as 一組搭檔/一组搭档 (一對搭档/一对搭档 is valid), here the quantity in each set is assumed to be two (i.e. one pair). Note that when used for other naturally paired things, like chopsticks 筷子, represented as *一組筷子/一组筷子; here the quantity of objects is unspecified if no context specific it, as people never use / for chopsticks as a natural in-pair object classifier (That is, except for certain objects like 搭檔/搭档, the classifier / won't fallback to /, et al. when used for objects in pairs.)

Measurement units[edit]

Trad. Simp. Mandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese (Jyutping) Cantonese
(Yale)
Meaning
Time
miǎo miu5 miu5 "second"
fēn fan1 fan1 "minute"
hak1 haak1 hak1 haak1 "quarter","15 minutes" (mainly in certain dialects, such as Shanghainese, and translations)
tiān tin1 tin1 "day"
jat6 yat6 "day"
nián nin4 nin4 "year"
zǎi zoi2 zoi3 joi2 joi3 "year" (ancient)
suì seoi3 seoi3 "year of age"
Weight/mass
hak1 haak1 hak1 haak1 "gram"
liǎng loeng2 leung2 50 grams(1/10 jīn), used to be 1/16 jīn
加崙/加侖 加仑 jiālùn gaa1 leon2 gaa1 leun2 gallon
jīn gan1 gan1 "catty", "pound", 1/2 kilograms
公斤 gōngjīn gung1 gan1 gung1 gan1 "metric jīn", kilogram
千克 qiānkè cin1 hak1/haak1 chin1 hak1/haak1 "kilogram"
dūn deon1 deun1 "ton"
Length/distance
公分 gōngfēn gung1 fan1 gung1 fan1 "metric fēn",centimetre
厘米 límǐ lei4 mai5 lei4 mai5 "centimetre" (More common in Mainland China and Hong Kong)
cùn cyun3 chyun3 Chinese "inch" (13 of a decimetre)
cùn cyun3 chyun3 British inch
chǐ ce2/cek3 che2/chek3 Chinese "foot" (13 of a metre)
chǐ cek3 chek3 British foot
英尺 yīngchǐ jing1 cek3 ying1 chek3 British foot
公尺 gōngchǐ gung1 cek3 gung1 chek3 "metric chǐ", metre
mai5 mai5 "metre"
lei5 lei5 "", (500 metres)
le1/lei5/li1 le1/lei5/li1 British mile/Statute mile (5280 British feet)
英里 yīnglǐ jing1 lei5 ying1 lei5 British mile/Statute mile
海里 hǎilǐ hai5 lei5 hai5 lei5 "nautical mile" (1852 meters, about 6076 British feet)
公里 gōnglǐ gung1 lei5 gung1 lei5 "kilometre" (1000 metres)
天文單位 天文单位 tiānwéndānwèi tin1 man4 daan1 wai2 tin1 man4 daan1 wai2 "astronomical unit"
光年 guāngnián gwong1 nin4 gwong1 nin4 "light year"
秒差距 miǎochājù miu5 caa1 geoi6 miu5 cha1 geui6 "parsec"
Money
圓/元 圆/元 yuán jun4 yun4 "yuán", "¥" (main unit of currency)
(either form can be used in Traditional Chinese text)
kuài faai3 faai3 "block", yuán (a slang term, like "quid" or "buck")
wén man1 man1 "dollar", yuán (Cantonese slang)
jiǎo gok3 gok3 "jiǎo", "dime", "tenpence"
máo mou4 mou4 "máo", "dime", "tenpence" (slang)
háo hou4 hou4 "dime", "tenpence" (Cantonese slang)
fēn fan1/fan6 fan1/fan6 "fēn", "cent", "penny"

Verbal classifiers[edit]

See Chinese classifier → Verbal classifiers.

Trad. Simp. Mandarin
(Pinyin)
Cantonese (Jyutping) Cantonese
(Yale)
Meaning and uses
biàn bin3 pin3 bin3 pin3 the number of times an action has been completed, emphasizing the action's length and effort. e.g. 改了三遍把课文读一遍
chǎng coeng4 cheung4 a length of an event taking place within another event. e.g. 哭一场演一场,(一場戲一場表演
ci3 chi3 times (unlike , refers to the number of times regardless of whether or not it was completed). e.g. 每次上一次下一次试了五次,(三次机会第一次用第两次出国
dùn deon6 deun6 actions without repetition. e.g. 打一顿骂一顿,(一顿大一顿骂
huí wui4 wui4 occurrences (used colloquially). e.g. 潇洒一回来一回走一回過場
shēng seng1/sing1 seng1/sing1 cries, shouts, etc. e.g. 砰的一声哗一声滴滴两声,(一声响一声呼唤
tàng tong3 tong3 trips, visitations, etc. e.g. 走一趟去一趟,(一趟下来
xià haa5/haa6 ha5/ha6 brief and often sudden actions (much more common in Cantonese than in northern dialects). e.g. 咔嚓一下噌的一下跳兩下按五下. also used as weakened injunctive mood. e.g. 來一下幫我一下.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Wēi Zhǔbiān (危东亚), ed.; et al. (1995), A Chinese-English Dictionary, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, p. 1144, ISBN 9787560007397 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ John S. Barlow (1995), A Chinese-Russian-English Dictionary, University of Hawaiʻi Press, p. 392, ISBN 0-8248-1729-X
  3. ^ Wú Jǐngróng (吴景荣), ed.; et al. (2006), New Age Chinese-English Dictionary, The Commercial Press, p. 612, ISBN 9787100043458 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  4. ^ "MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary". www.mdbg.net. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  5. ^ Wēi Zhǔbiān (危东亚), ed.; et al. (1995), A Chinese-English Dictionary, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, pp. 775–776, ISBN 9787560007397 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ John S. Barlow (1995), A Chinese-Russian-English Dictionary, University of Hawaiʻi Press, p. 505, ISBN 0-8248-1729-X
  7. ^ Wú Jǐngróng (吴景荣), ed.; et al. (2006), New Age Chinese-English Dictionary, The Commercial Press, p. 1207, ISBN 9787100043458 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary". www.mdbg.net. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  9. ^ John S. Barlow (1995), A Chinese-Russian-English Dictionary, University of Hawaiʻi Press, p. 480, ISBN 0-8248-1729-X
  10. ^ "MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary". www.mdbg.net. Retrieved 2022-10-08.
  11. ^ Wēi Zhǔbiān (危东亚), ed.; et al. (1995), A Chinese-English Dictionary, Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press, p. 1144, ISBN 9787560007397 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Wú Jǐngróng (吴景荣), ed.; et al. (2006), New Age Chinese-English Dictionary, The Commercial Press, p. 1744, ISBN 9787100043458 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "MDBG Chinese-English Dictionary". www.mdbg.net. Retrieved 2022-10-08.

External links[edit]