HSK 4
名量词：打、袋、根、卷、棵、批
míng liàng cí ： dǎ 、 dài 、 gēn 、 juàn 、 kē 、 pī
Measure words: 打、袋、根、卷、棵、批
Explanation
These are measure words (words that count units, like "cái, con, quyển" in Vietnamese): every Chinese noun must take the measure word that matches its shape or nature.
number + measure word + noun, e.g. 一 (yī, one) + 棵 (kē) + 树 (shù, tree). 打 (dá) counts by the dozen (12 items): 一打啤酒 a dozen beers. 袋 (dài) is for things held in a bag/sack: 一袋米 a bag of rice. 根 (gēn) is for long, slender things: 一根头发 a strand of hair. 卷 (juǎn) is for things that can be rolled up: 一卷纸 a roll of paper. 棵 (kē) is for plants and trees: 一棵树 a tree. 批 (pī) is for a group/batch of people or goods: 一批学生 a group of students.
choose the measure word according to the object's characteristics — long and slender uses 根, rollable uses 卷, plants use 棵, whole groups/batches use 批, bagged things use 袋, counting by the dozen uses 打.
Vietnamese learners often use 个 (gè, general measure word) for everything, or pick the wrong one (saying 一个头发 instead of 一根头发). You need to remember the specific measure word dedicated to each type of object.
打 (dá, dozen) is read dá when it functions as a measure word, different from 打 (dǎ) meaning "to hit".
Examples
a dozen beers, a bag of rice, a strand of hair, a roll of paper, a tree, a group of students
Learn “名量词：打、袋、根、卷、棵、批” effectively
The grammar point “名量词：打、袋、根、卷、棵、批” (Measure words: 打、袋、根、卷、棵、批) is one of the key structures at HSK 4. 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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