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Measure words
Exercises
Other terminology: 量 词.
1. How many measure words are there?
There are four kinds of measure words.
1. Measure words which are only used in Chinese but not in English. (See Table One)
(mw for nouns) (mw for actions)
yì zhāng piào èn yí xià
一 张 票 摁 一 下
ONE SHEET OF TICKET PRESS ONE XIA
A ticket. Press once
2. Nouns which indicate certain kinds of non-standard measurements (but not standard measurements). These measure words are used in a similar way in English. (See Table Two)
sān píng jiŭ
三 瓶 酒
THREE BOTTLES WINE
Three bottles of wine.
3. Some Chinese nouns have "built-in" measure words, in other words they don't need additional measure words. They can be used just as they are in English (number word + noun). Not many nouns can be used in this way.
qī tiān
七 天
SEVEN DAYS
Seven days.
4. The words in this category are used for standard measurements. (See Table Three)
三 寸
THREE INCHES
Three inches.
2. When do I need a measure word (category 1) in a sentence?
Measure words (category 1) are needed in the following situations.
- When a quantity is involved, for instance, if you use a number in front of a noun.
- When you want to specify a noun, in other words if you use 这 this, 那 that, 每 every.
- When the question words 哪 which and 几 how many are used.
tā yŏu yìbĕn hányŭ shū nă ge lăoshī jiāo nĭmen kǒuyǔ
他 有 一 本 汉语 书. 哪 个 老师 教 你们 口语?
HE HAS A BEN CHINESE BOOK WHICH GE TEACHER TEACH YOU ORAL
He has a Chinese book Which teacher teaches you the spoken language?
3. Where should I place a measure word in a sentence?
The following sentence pattern shows how a measure word is used with the object of the sentence.
s. v. number/这/那/每/哪/几 +mw+ description of 的 noun
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wŏ
我
I
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yŏu
有
HAVE
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sān bĕn
三 本
3 BEN
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jiāo wàiguórén xué hànyǔ yòngde shū
教 外 国人 学 汉语 用 的 书.
TEACH FOREIGNER LEARN CHINESE USE DE BOOK
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I have three books which can be used for teaching foreigners (to learn) Chinese.
4. Are there any other tips on the use of measure words?
- The question word 多少 doesn't need a measure word, where as 几 needs one.
zhōngwénxì yŏu duōshao ge xuésheng
中文 系 有 多少 (个) 学生?
CHINESE DEPT. HAS HOW MANY (GE) STUDENTS
How many students are there in the Chinese department?
- If the quantity is one, the word “one” is often omitted in spoken Chinese, but the measure word remains,
tā xiě le yí ge zì tā zuò le yì xiē liànxí
他 写 了 (一) 个 字 他 作 了 (一) 些 练习
HE WRITE LE (YI) GE ZI HE DO LE (YI) XIE EXERCISES.
He has written a word. He has done some exercises.
5. Should the word 多 (more, over) appear before or after a measure word?
多 can appear either before or after a measure word, but it is important to know that the word before 多 is a kind of measurement,
sān shí duō ge rén
三 十 多 个 人.
THREE TEN MORE GE PEOPLE
Over thirty people. (Usually it means that there are 30 - 40 people.)
As you can see, the word before 多 is 十. In this case, 多 means less than that measurement 十 (ten). Therefore, 三十多 means that three tens plus 多 which is less than ten (十), so the number appears to be between 30 - 40. Let's see another example.
三 个 多 苹果.
THREE GE MORE APPLE
Three apples and a bit.
Table One
Measure words used in Chinese but not in English.
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1
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Character
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Pinyin
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Used for
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Examples
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1
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把
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bă
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small objects which can be held in the hand
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knives, chairs, umbrellas, teapot
两把刀; 一把椅子; 一把伞, 一把茶壶
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1
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本
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bĕn
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book-like objects
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magazines, novels
四本杂志; 三本小说
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1
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遍
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biàn
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action measure (going through a completed process)
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watch (a film), read (a text) 电影看了两遍; 课文念了三遍
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1
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部
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bù
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machinery, vehicles production of a play
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cars, plays
六部轿车; 一部话剧
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1
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场
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chăng
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sth. which lasts for a short period
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performances, rainfall
演了三场戏; 下了一场雨
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1
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层
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céng
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floor (Similar to 楼)
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storey
三层楼
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1
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次
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cì
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actions
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to pay visits, to do sth
去了一次中国; 这件事作了两次
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1
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顶
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dĭng
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sth to put over one's head
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hats, tents, umbrellas
一顶帽子; 五顶蚊帐
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1
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顿
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dùn
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actions which last for a short period
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to eat a meal, to beat sb. up 吃了一顿饭; 把他打了一顿
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1
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朵
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duō
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flower-like objects
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flowers, clouds, mushrooms
七朵花; 一朵云彩; 几朵木耳
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1
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份
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fèn
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portions
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newspapers, jobs
一份报; 一份工作
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1
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封
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fēng
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sth. sealed in an envelope
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letters, telegram
两封信; 一封电报
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1
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幅
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fú
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picture-like objects
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paintings, banners
三幅画; 一幅对联; 八幅标语
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1
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个
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ge
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units of sth. (common measure word, for both abstract and physical objects)
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people, schools, ideas...
五个人; 两个学校; 一个主意
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1
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根
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gēn
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sth. thin and flexible
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hairs, threads, strings
两根头发; 一根线; 三根绳
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1
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户
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hù
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household
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household
这个村子有五户人家
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1
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回
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huí
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actions (similar to次visits but more colloq.)
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actions
看了他两回
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1
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家
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jiā
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establishments
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companies, restaurants, shops
一家公司; 四家饭馆; 八家商店
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1
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架
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jià
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machinery, vehicle
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aeroplanes, pianos, computers
一架飞机; 十架钢琴
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1
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间
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jiān
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any kinds of room
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bed-rooms, kitchens, class-rooms
一间卧室; 两间厨房; 三间教室
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1
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件
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jiàn
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top part of clothes, matters
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shirts; coats; matters
两 件 衬 衫; 一 件 大 衣; 三 件 事
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1
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句
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jù
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sentences, lines of poems
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sayings; idioms
三句成语; 一句诗; 两句话
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1
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课
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kè
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lessons of texts
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lessons
两本书有五十课课文
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1
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棵
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kē
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trees, plants
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pine-tree, roses
三棵松树; 一棵玫瑰
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1
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口
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kŏu
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population on a small scale (for a number under 100)
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population of a family
一家三口人
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1
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辆
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liàng
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vehicles (on wheels)
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cars, bikes
一辆汽车; 一辆脚踏车
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1
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名
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míng
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people (members of...)
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party members, university teachers
一名党员; 两名大学教师
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1
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篇
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piān
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writings
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essays
一篇文章; 两篇论文
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1
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片
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piàn
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sth. thin and in an irregular shape
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leaves, fields, lakes, tablets (medicine)
三片叶子; 一片麦田; 四片药片
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1
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扇
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shàn
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sth. vertical with a flat surface
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doors, windows
三扇门 一扇窗
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1
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首
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shŏu
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verses
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songs, poems
一首民歌; 两首中国诗歌
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1
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所
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suŏ
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small buildings and houses, institutions
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universities, detached houses
一所大学 一所房子
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1
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堂
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táng
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Classes, lectures
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lessons
三堂课
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1
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趟
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tàng
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action measure similar to 次
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to pay a visit
去了三趟
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1
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条
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tiáo
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sth. narrow, long and twisty, lower part wearing
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fish, dogs, rivers, trousers, skirts, boats
一条鱼; 三条狗; 两条裤子,裙子; 一条船
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1
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头
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tóu
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farm animals except horses and sheep
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pigs, oxen
一头猪; 两头牛
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1
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位
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wèi
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people (used to show respect)
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teachers, customers
三位老师 一位顾客
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1
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下
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xià
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measure of movements to hit, press
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打两下; 摁一下
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1
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张
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zhāng
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objects made of paper, objects with a flat object
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paper, tickets, beds, table, mouths
一 张 纸; 一 张 票; 一 张 桌 子; 一 张 床
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1
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枝
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zhī
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twig-like objects
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Pens
一枝钢笔
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1
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只
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zhī
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animals, one of a pair
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chickens, shoe
三只鸡 一只鞋
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1
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座
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zuò
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mountains, big buildings
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hills, a block of flats
一座山, 一座公寓/大楼
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Table Two
Nouns used for measurements. These words are used in a similar way in English.
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2
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Character
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Pinyin
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Used for
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Examples
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2
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把
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bă
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hands full of...
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rice grain, sand
一把米; 一把沙
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2
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包
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bāo
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packets of ...
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sweets, cigarettes
一包糖; 一包烟
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2
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杯
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bēi
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cups, glasses of ...
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tea, wine
一杯茶; 三杯酒
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2
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笔
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bĭ
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strokes of characters, sums of money
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strokes, money
两笔; 一笔钱
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2
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部
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bù
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Productions, sets of written work
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film/play, film, opera
一部电影 一部著作 三部歌剧
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2
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层
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céng
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layers of...
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dust, cake
一层灰; 两层蛋糕
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2
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打
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dá
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dozens of...
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pencils, eggs
一打铅笔; 两打鸡蛋
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2
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袋
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dài
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bags of...
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sugar, flour, rice
一袋面粉 两袋大米
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2
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对
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duì
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matched pairs of...
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couples, vase
一对夫妇; 一对花瓶
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2
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盒
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hé
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small boxes of...
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cigarettes, cakes
三盒烟; 一盒蛋糕
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2
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块
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kuài
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irregular shape pieces
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cakes, watches
一 块 蛋 糕; 两块表
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2
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排
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pái
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rows of…, lines of…
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seats, tables, people
十几排椅子; 四排桌子; 一排人
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2
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瓶
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píng
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bottles of…
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wine, water, oil
两瓶酒; 一瓶水; 三瓶油
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2
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束
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shù
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bunches of…
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flowers
一束花
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2
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双
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shuāng
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pairs of…
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shoes, gloves, chopsticks
六双鞋; 一双手套; 一双筷子
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2
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套
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tào
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sets of…
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suites, stamps, rooms, furniture
西装; 邮票; 房间; 家具
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2
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碗
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wăn
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bowls of…
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rice, noodles, soup
两碗饭; 一碗面; 一碗汤
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2
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种
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zhŏng
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kinds of…
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things, books, people
一种东西; 一种书; 一种人
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Table Three
Category 3 and 4: nouns with the “built-in” measure words and standard measurements.
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3
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Character
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Pinyin
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Used for
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Examples
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3
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镑
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bàng
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Sterling
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十英镑
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3
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磅
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bàng
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pound (weight)
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重十磅
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3
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尺
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chĭ
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foot
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六尺
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3
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寸
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cùn
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inch
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五寸
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3
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点
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diăn
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o’ clock
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七点十分
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3
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度
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dù
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degree
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三十七度
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3
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分
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fēn
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minute (time reading)
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五点十五分
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3
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分
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fēn
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cent (money)
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六分钱
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3
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公斤
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gōngjīn
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kilogram
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两公斤
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3
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角
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jiăo
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unit of 10 cents (money)
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五角
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3
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刻
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kè
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quarter of hour (time reading)
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八点三刻
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3
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块
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kuài
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unit of 100 cents (money: colloq.)
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二十五块
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3
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两
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liăng
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measure for weight (1 = 50 gm.)
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三两饭
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3
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秒
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miăo
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second (time reading)
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八点十七分零二秒
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3
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毛
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máo
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unit of 10 cents (money: colloq.)
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九毛八
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3
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米
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mĭ
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meter
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长三米
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3
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年
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nián
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year
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两年
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3
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岁
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suì
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year of age
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三岁
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3
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天
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tiān
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day
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七天
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3
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些 (一些)
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xiē
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some
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一些
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3
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点 (一点)
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diăn
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some
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一点
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3
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页
|
yè
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page
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五百多页
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3
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元
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yuán
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unit of 100 cents (money)
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三元钱
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3
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站
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zhàn
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stop (for buses and trains)
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六站
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Exercises
You can submit your work online here
Click here to view the answers
Find suitable measure words for the following words.
1. 3 cars. 9. 2 copies of magazines. 17. 4 wheels.
2. 1 house. 10. 3 windows. 18. 1 ruler.
3. 2 vases. 11. 6 beds. 19. 2 desk lamps.
4. Many lakes. 12. 2 pairs of trousers. 20. 1 student.
5. How many countries? 13. 3 car number plates.
6. A few forms. 14. 1 note.
7. 3 kinds of newspapers. 15. 2 roofs.
8. 1 story. 16. 2 doors.
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