两杯咖啡 liang bēi kāfēi (two cups of coffee): Counting in Chinese and Using Measure Words
In this post we’ll learn about counting in Chinese, which means that we’ll introduce the important concept of Chinese measure words. First, we’ll start by covering the basics of Chinese numbers. Next, we’ll introduce the concept of a measure word, which is an essential part of Chinese grammar. After that we’ll see some common and useful measure words for different types of nouns. We’ll divide them into small groups so you can digest them more easily. We’ll include examples and practice for each group.
Counting in Chinese: Numbers
First, let’s review Chinese numbers. We’ll include the characters, which you would write out in similar cases to when you’d write out one, two, three, and so on. For most everyday uses, you’ll see 1, 2, 3.
Numbers 1 through 10
Let’s start with the basics, the numbers one through ten.
| 一 | yī | one |
| 二 / 两 | èr / liǎng | two |
| 三 | sān | three |
| 四 | sì | four |
| 五 | wǔ | five |
| 六 | liù | six |
| 七 | qī | seven |
| 八 | bā | eight |
| 九 | jiǔ | nine |
| 十 | shí | ten |
Notice that there are two ways to say two: 二 èr and两 liǎng. You use 二 èr when you’re counting from one to ten or talking about money or phone numbers or the like. When you’re counting things, you use 两 liǎng. One way to think of it is that 两 liǎng is more like “a pair of.”
Higher Numbers
To make the numbers from eleven to 19, just say 十 shí (ten) plus the number in the ones place. For example, twelve is literally “ten-two.”
- 十一 shí yīeleven
- 十二 shí èrtwelve
- 十三 shí sānthirteen
- 十八 shí bāeighteen
For twenty, thirty, and other tens places, just swap the order. “Two-ten(s)” is twenty, “three-ten(s)” is thirty, and so on. You can add a ones place as well, for example “two-ten(s)-one” is twenty-one.
- 二十 èr shítwenty
- 二十一 èr shí yītwenty-one
- 八十 bā shíeighty
For more Chinese numbers, check out this post.
Chinese Measure Words
Now that you know Chinese numbers, you’ll need to know how to use them. In English and many languages, if you want to count something you simply use the number and the plural of the noun. But in Chinese (as well as in many other languages!) you can’t just do that. You need the help of a little word called a measure word or a counter.
This isn’t so terribly unlike English, if you think about it. English has two types of nouns. The first are count nouns, which you can count: one dog, two dogs; one person, three people; one day, seven days. But the other kind of nouns are mass nouns or uncountable nouns, things like flour, water, air, advice, happiness, and so on. You can’t count these in the same way: two flours or four advices is just plain wrong.
We can count mass nouns, we just need the help of a word that’s pretty much exactly like Chinese measure words: two cups of flour, four glasses of water, three pieces of advice. In many cases, these words refer to a container, or a unit of measurement, or something like that. And they’re often related to size or shape or type of noun: one volume of literature, two sticks of butter, three slices of bread.
If you can understand these two concepts from English, you can understand Chinese measure words. The only adjustment to your thinking that you have to make is to think of all Chinese nouns as mass nouns.
Using Chinese Measure Words
Let’s see how Chinese measure words are most commonly used. We’ll take 本 běn as an example; this is the measure word used for books, magazines, and other bound volumes.
First, measure words are used for counting. They typically come between the number and the noun being counted.
- 两本书
liǎng běn shū
two books - 五本书
wǔ běn shū
five books
Measure words are also used with the demonstratives 这 zhè (this) and 那 nà (that) words like 每 měi (every).
- 这本书
zhè běn shū
this book - 那本书
nà běn shū
that book - 每本书
měi běn shū
every book
Another common use of measure words is with certain quantity expressions.
- 多少本书
duōshǎo běn shū
how many books - 很多本书
hěnduō běn shū
many books - 几本书
jǐ běn shū
a few books
Common Chinese Measure Words
Now let’s look at some common and useful Chinese measure words. Just like English, you use different measure words depending on the type of thing you’re counting. We’ll divide them into groups so it’s easier to master them.
Group 1: Chinese Measure Words for People and Everyday Objects
The first Chinese measure word that you should learn is 个 gè. It is used to count people, and it’s also the sort of catch-all measure word that you can use if you’re not sure which is the correct measure word to use. Don’t rely on it too much, though, because it will sound unnatural, overly simplistic, or even childlike. (Kids use 个 gè all the time before they learn more precise measure words.)
| measure word | things it counts | examples |
| 个 gè | people, general objects | 一个人 yīgè rén (one person) 三个女人 sān gè nǚrén (three women) |
| 杯 bēi | cups, glasses | 一杯咖啡 yībēi kāfēi (a cup of coffee) 四杯水 sìbēi shuǐ (four glasses of water) |
| 本 běn | books, magazines, bound volumes | 两本书 liǎng běn shū (two books) 五本笔记本 wǔ běn bǐjìběn (five notebooks) |
| 台 tái | machines, devices | 两台电脑 liǎng tái diànnǎo (two computers) 三台电视 sān tái diànshì (three televisions) |
| 张 zhāng | flat objects, things that come in sheets | 三张桌子sān zhāng zhuōzi (three tables) 十张纸 shí zhāng zhǐ (ten sheets of paper) |
| 部 bù | works of literature, films, phones, some machines | 两部手机 liǎng bù shǒujī (two cell phones) 三部电影 sān bù diànyǐng (three films) |
| 把 bǎ | things with handles, things that can be easily grabbed | 一把椅子yī bǎ yǐzi (one chair) 两把刀 liǎng bǎ dāo (two knives) |
Practice 1
Let’s stop there and review this first batch of measure words. Choose the correct measure word out of the four choices. Then translate the whole phrase.
| 1.一___女人yī ___ nǚrén | 部 bù | 个 gè | 杯 bēi | 台 tái |
| 2.两___咖啡liǎng ___ kāfēi | 本 běn | 台 tái | 杯 bēi | 部 bù |
| 3.三___电脑sān ___ diànnǎo | 台 tái | 本 běn | 张 zhāng | 把 bǎ |
| 4.一___水yī ___ shuǐ | 把 bǎ | 杯 bēi | 个 gè | 台 tái |
| 5.十___书 shí ___ shū | 台 tái | 部 bù | 本 běn | 把 bǎ |
| 6.六___男孩liù ___ nánhái | 张 zhāng | 本 běn | 台 tái | 个 gè |
| 7.两___桌子liǎng ___ zhuōzi | 把 bǎ | 张 zhāng | 台 tái | 本 běn |
| 8.四___床sì ___chuáng | 张 zhāng | 本 běn | 台 tái | 部 bù |
| 9.七___学生 qī ___ xuéshēng | 部 bù | 本 běn | 杯 bēi | 个 gè |
| 10.八___椅子bā ___ yǐzi | 杯 bēi | 张 zhāng | 把 bǎ | 部 bù |
| 11.五___手机 wǔ ___ shǒujī | 本 běn | 台 tái | 部 bù | 台 tái |
| 12.三___电视sān ___ diànshì | 台 tái | 杯 bēi | 张 zhāng | 本 běn |
Group 2: Chinese Measure Words for Around the House
Now let’s look at some more common Chinese measure words that you can use for things that you’ll find around the house.
| measure word | things it counts | examples |
| 栋 dòng | buildings | 一栋房子 yī dòng fángzi (one house) 那栋大楼 nà dòng dàlóu (that building) |
| 间 jiān | rooms | 两间卧室 liǎng jiān wòshì (two bedrooms) 一间客厅 yī jiān kètīng (a/one living room) |
| 扇 shàn | doors, windows | 两扇门 liǎng shàn mén (two doors) 那扇窗户 nà shàn chuānghu (that window) |
| 辆 liàng | vehicles | 这辆车zhè liàng chē (this car) 那辆自行车 nà liàng zìxíngchē (that bike) |
| 只 zhī | animals | 两只狗 liǎng zhī gǒu (two dogs) 那只猫 nà zhī māo (that cat) |
| 盏 zhǎn | lamps | 一盏台灯 yī zhǎn tái dēng (one desk/table lamp) 三盏灯 sān zhǎn dēng (three lamps) |
Practice 2
Once again, let’s review. We’ll mix measure words from the first two groups.
| 1.一___男人yī ___ nánrén | 辆 liàng | 个 gè | 只 zhī | 间 jiān |
| 2.两___床 liǎng ___ chuáng | 间 jiān | 只 zhī | 张 zhāng | 辆 liàng |
| 3.那___车 nà ___ chē | 杯 bēi | 辆 liàng | 把 bǎ | 只 zhī |
| 4.这___沙发 zhè ___ shāfā | 张 zhāng | 台 tái | 本 běn | 部 bù |
| 5.十___书 shí ___ shū | 扇 shàn | 辆 liàng | 本 běn | 杯 bēi |
| 6.四___狗 sì ___ gǒu | 台 tái | 扇 shàn | 只 zhī | 把 bǎ |
| 7.那___ 台灯 nà ___ tái dēng | 辆 liàng | 只 zhī | 台 tái | 盏 zhǎn |
| 8.三___电脑sān ___ diànnǎo | 台 tái | 扇 shàn | 杯 bēi | 部 bù |
| 9.两___门 liǎng ___ mén | 杯 bēi | 间 jiān | 把 bǎ | 扇 shàn |
| 10.五___自行车 wǔ ___ zìxíngchē | 只 zhī | 辆 liàng | 辆 liàng | 间 jiān |
| 11.五___手机 wǔ ___ shǒujī | 本 běn | 台 tái | 部 bù | 间 jiān |
| 12.几___茶？jǐ ___ chá? | 杯 bēi | 本 běn | 间 jiān | 部 bù |
| 13.三___卧室 sān ___ wòshì | 把 bǎ | 间 jiān | 辆 liàng | 台 tái |
| 14.那___学生nà ___ xuéshēng | 间 jiān | 只 zhī | 杯 bēi | 个 gè |
Group 3: Chinese Measure Words for Around Town
Next we’ll see some common Chinese measure words that you can use to talk about things you’re likely to see around town.
| measure word | things it counts | examples |
| 家 jiā | workplaces, businesses | 这家商店zhè jiā shāngdiàn (this store) 两家银行 liǎng jiā yínháng (two banks) |
| 条 tiáo | long, winding things | 一条街liǎng yītiáo jiē (a/one street) 那条河 nà tiáo hé (that river) |
| 所 suǒ | buildings with specific purposes | 这所学校 zhè suǒ xuéxiào (this school) 那所医院 nà suǒ yīyuàn (that hospital) |
| 列 liè | things that come in series | 这列火车zhè liè huǒchē (this train)两列地铁Liǎng liè dìtiě (two subway trains) |
| 座 zuò | large buildings, bridges | 两座桥liǎng zuò qiáo (two bridges) 那座寺庙nà zuò sìmiào (that temple) |
Practice 3
Let’s review. We’ll mix measure words from the first three groups.
| 1.十二___商店 shí’èr ___ shāngdiàn | 杯 bēi | 条 tiáo | 商 jiā | 辆 liàng |
| 2.一___女人yī ___ nǚrén | 部 bù | 个 gè | 杯 bēi | 台 tái |
| 3.两___茶 liǎng ___ chá | 家 jiā | 杯 bēi | 辆 liàng | 条 tiáo |
| 4.这___街 zhè ___ jiē | 条 tiáo | 扇 shàn | 家 jiā | 只 zhī |
| 5.那___房子 nà ___ fángzi | 只 zhī | 条 tiáo | 把 bǎ | 栋 dòng |
| 6.两___医院 liǎng ___ yīyuàn | 条 tiáo | 所 suǒ | 本 běn | 扇 shàn |
| 7.三___电脑 sān ___ diànnǎo | 家 jiā | 把 bǎ | 扇 shàn | 台 tái |
| 8.二十五___人èr shí wǔ ___ rén | 本 běn | 个 gè | 家 jiā | 杯 bēi |
| 9.那___银行 nà ___ yínháng | 家 jiā | 扇 shàn | 把 bǎ | 辆 liàng |
| 10.二十___车èrshí ___ chē | 本 běn | 只 zhī | 辆 liàng | 张 zhāng |
| 11. 十六___酒店 shíliù ___ jiǔdiàn | 辆 liàng | 家 jiā | 扇 shàn | 只 zhī |
| 12.三十二___学校 sānshí’èr ___ xuéxiào | 扇 shàn | 条 tiáo | 所 suǒ | 本 běn |
Group 4: Chinese Measure Words for Food and Drink
Finally, let’s look at some Chinese measure words that you can use to talk about food and drinks. (Don’t forget about 杯bēi, which you use for cups and glasses.)
| 瓶 píng | bottles | 一瓶水yī píng shuǐ (a/one bottle of water) 两瓶啤酒 liǎng píng píjiǔ (two bottles of beer) |
| 份 fèn | portions, servings | 一份沙拉yī fèn shālā (a/one salad) 两份炒饭 liǎng fèn chǎofàn (two portions fried rice) |
| 碗 wǎn | bowls | 一碗米饭 yī wǎn mǐfàn (a bowl of rice) 一碗汤 yī wǎn tāng (a bowl of soup) |
| 盘 pán | plates | 一盘鸡肉 yī pán jīròu (a plate of chicken) 一盘饺子 yī pán jiǎozi (a plate of dumplings) |
| 块 kuài | pieces | 两块馅饼liǎng kuài xiàn bǐng (two pieces of pie) 一块鸡肉yīkuài jīròu (a piece of chicken) |
| 壶 hú | pots | 一壶茶 yī hú chá (a pot of tea) 一壶咖啡yī hú kāfēi (a pot of coffee) |
Practice 4
Let’s practice Chinese measure words for food in context. Make polite requests using 请给我 Qǐng gěi wǒ (Please give me… May I have…). Translate the complete phrases.
| 1. 两杯咖啡 liǎng bēi kāfēi | 2. 一瓶啤酒 yī píng píjiǔ |
| 3.两份炒饭 liǎng fèn chǎofàn | 4. 三碗米饭 sān wǎn mǐfàn |
| 5. 一块馅饼yī kuài xiàn bǐng | 6. 一把叉子 yī bǎ chāzi |
| 7. 一份面条 yī fèn miàntiáo | 8. 一盘猪肉饺子 yī pán zhūròu jiǎozi |
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Answer Key
Practice 1
1. 一个女人yī gè nǚrén (a/one woman) 2. 两杯咖啡liǎng bēi kāfēi (two cups of coffee) 3. 三台电脑sān tái diànnǎo (three computers) 4. 一杯水yī bēi shuǐ (a/one glass of water) 5. 十本书 shí běn shū (ten books) 6. 六个男孩liù gè nánhái (six boys) 7. 两张桌子liǎng zhāng zhuōzi (two tables) 8. 四张床sì zhāng chuáng (four beds) 9. 七个学生 qī gè xuéshēng (seven students) 10. 八把椅子bā bǎ yǐzi (eight chairs) 11. 五部手机 wǔ bù shǒujī (five cell phones) 12. 三台电视sān tái diànshì (three televisions)
Practice 2
1. 一个男人yī gè nánrén (one man) 2. 两张床 liǎng zhāng chuáng (two beds) 3. 那辆车 nà liàng chē (that car) 4. 这张沙发 zhè zhāng shāfā (this sofa) 5. 十本书 shí běn shū (ten books) 6. 四只狗 sì zhǐ gǒu (four dogs) 7. 那盏台灯 nà zhǎn tái dēng (that lamp) 8. 三台电脑 sān tái diànnǎo (three computers) 9. 两扇门 liǎng shàn mén (two doors) 10. 五辆自行车 wǔ liàng zìxíngchē (five bikes) 11. 五部手机 wǔ bù shǒujī (five cell phones) 12. 几杯茶？jǐ bēi chá? (how many cups of tea?) 13. 三间卧室 sān jiān wòshì (three bedrooms) 14. 那个学生nà gè xuéshēng (that student)
Practice 3
十二商店 shí’èr jiā shāngdiàn (twelve stores), 2. 一个女人yī gè nǚrén (a/one woman), 3. 两杯茶 liǎng bēi chá (two cups of tea), 4. 这条街 zhè tiáo jiē (this street), 5. 那栋房子 nà dòng fángzi (that house), 6. 两所医院 liǎng suǒ yīyuàn (two hospitals) 7. 三台电脑 sān tái diànnǎo (three computers), 8. 二十五个人èr shí wǔ gè rén (twenty five people), 9. 那家银行 nà jiā yínháng (that bank), 10. 二十辆车èrshí liàng chē (twenty cars), 11. 十六家酒店 shíliù jiā jiǔdiàn (sixteen hotels) 12. 三十二所学校 sānshí’èr suǒ xuéxiào (thirty two schools)
Practice 4
1. 请给我两杯咖啡。 Qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng bēi kāfēi. May I please have two cups of coffee? 2. 请给我一瓶啤酒。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yī píng píjiǔ. May I please have a bottle of beer? 3. 请给我两份炒饭。 Qǐng gěi wǒ liǎng fèn chǎofàn. May I please have two orders of fried rice? 4. 请给我三碗米饭。 Qǐng gěi wǒ sān wǎn mǐfàn. May I please have three bowls of rice? 5. 请给我一块馅饼。 Qǐng gěi yī kuài xiàn bǐng. May I please have a piece of pie? 6. 请给我一把叉子。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yī bǎ chāzi. May I please have a fork? 7. 请给我一份面条。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yī fèn miàntiáo. May I please have an order of noodles? 8. 请给我一盘猪肉饺子。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yī pán zhūròu jiǎozi. May I please have a plate of pork dumplings?
