Measure words in Mandarin

MFL, Mandarin grammar. Usually met in years 7 to 11.

Choose the measure word that goes between a number and a noun in Mandarin, such as 个, 本 or 只.

What you practise

个 for people and many things
Measure words for books, animals and flat things
Measure words for drinks, clothes and vehicles

Starts with 个 and the most common measure words and adds the rest level by level. Practice moves up a level when a round goes well and down when it does not.

Sample questions

Each sample comes with the method and the reason every wrong option is wrong. Real practice rounds are ten questions at your level.

Sample question, level 2 of 5

Which measure word completes 一 ___ 房间 (fáng jiān), ‘one room’?

Show the answer and method

Answer: A, 个

The method: 个 is the general measure word, for people and many everyday things, so ‘one room’ is 一个房间.

Why the other options are wrong:

B, 本: 本 is for books and magazines.
C, 口: 口 is for the number of people in a family.
D, 件: 件 is for clothes on the top half and for matters.
E, 条: 条 is for long, thin things such as rivers, trousers and fish.

Sample question, level 4 of 5

Which measure word completes 一 ___ 纸, ‘one paper’?

Show the answer and method

Answer: C, 张

The method: 张 is for flat things such as tickets, tables and paper, so ‘one paper’ is 一张纸.

Why the other options are wrong:

A, 双: 双 is for pairs, such as shoes and chopsticks.
B, 件: 件 is for clothes on the top half and for matters.
D, 口: 口 is for the number of people in a family.
E, 个: 个 is the general measure word, for people and many everyday things.

See where this fits: every language topic and Key Stage 3.