MANDARIN SENTENCE PATTERN

Numbers and classifiers

Count people and objects with an appropriate measure word.

Number + classifier + noun

A number normally needs a classifier before the noun. 个 is common for people and many objects, 本 for books, and 杯 for cups or glasses of a drink.

两 commonly means two before a classifier. 二 is used in counting and numbers such as 十二. Learn classifiers with their nouns.

Examples

我有两本书。

Wǒ yǒu liǎng běn shū.

I have two books.

我要一杯茶。

Wǒ yào yì bēi chá.

I would like a cup of tea.

三个学生在这里。

Sān ge xuésheng zài zhèlǐ.

Three students are here.

个 is useful but does not replace every classifier. In 一杯 the spoken tone of 一 is fourth tone.