HSK 3
名量词：把、行、架、群、束、双、台、张、支、只、种
míng liàng cí ： bǎ 、 xíng 、 jià 、 qún 、 shù 、 shuāng 、 tái 、 zhāng 、 zhī 、 zhǐ 、 zhǒng
Nominal measure words (名量词)
Explanation
A measure word (a word for counting units, like "cái, con, quyển" in Vietnamese) is a word placed between a number and a noun to indicate the unit of a thing. Each Chinese noun usually has its own particular measure word that goes with it.
Number + measure word + noun. For example: 一 yī (one) + 把 bǎ + 椅子 yǐzi → 一把椅子 (one chair); 三 sān (three) + 只 zhī + 鸡 jī → 三只鸡 (three chickens).
A measure word is required whenever you count a quantity of things. Each measure word matches a group of nouns: 把 bǎ is used for things with a handle (椅子 - chair, 伞 - umbrella); 张 zhāng for flat things (桌子 - table, 纸 - paper); 支 zhī for long, straight things (笔 - pen); 只 zhī for small animals (鸡 - chicken); 台 tái for machines (电脑 - computer); 架 jià for airplanes; 群 qún for large groups; 束 shù for bunches (flowers); 双 shuāng for pairs (shoes, chopsticks); 行 háng for rows/lines; 种 zhǒng for kinds/types.
Vietnamese learners often drop the measure word, saying the incorrect 一椅子 instead of 一把椅子, or randomly use 个 gè for every noun. You need to memorize the measure word that goes with each noun and not guess.
双 shuāng is used for items that naturally come in pairs (shoes, chopsticks), which differs from 对 duì (a pair formed by matching two together).
Examples
one chair, two lines of Chinese characters, one airplane, one group of students, two bunches of flowers, one pair of sneakers
two computers, one table, one pen, three chickens, two kinds of colors
Practice
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Learn “名量词：把、行、架、群、束、双、台、张、支、只、种” effectively
The grammar point “名量词：把、行、架、群、束、双、台、张、支、只、种” (Nominal measure words (名量词)) is one of the key structures at HSK 3. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.
Study tip: read the examples aloud many times to build a natural reflex. Then try making your own sentences for your own situations. Use the audio button to hear and practice accurate pronunciation.
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