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Level 1: Lesson 5 Quantifier / Measure Word

In previous lesson, we had learnt about numbers; in this lesson, we will learn about quantifier. In
English, for saying a pencil, we only say quantity + object. But for Mandarin, we need to say
quantity + quantifier + object. There is a lot of quantifier, but for beginner, you only need to
remember few. The reason is some object can use different type of quantifier and some quantifier
can use for many object.

(g) Universal Measure Word = one unit

Quantifier

Meaning

One unit

mng

Description

People

Animal

Thing

** Universal Measure word, one unit

(a) person

For people, e.g.: a teacher, the student

wi

(a) person

Same as . But more respectful

du

(A) couple of ~

(People/ animal) Lover

(A) pair of ~

(Things) socks, pants, earring, etc.

du

(A) team of ~

E.g.: football players, representative

qn

(A) group of ~

One unit group of people or animal

(A) family of ~

A family, household
(according to house unit)

bn

(A) book of ~

E.g.: Text book

zhng

(A) piece of ~

Paper

chun

(A)String of ~

(Things) bead

(A) bunch of ~

(Fruits) banana, grapes

E.g.: Fish, rope, skirt

Car, Lorry, Motorcycle, Van, etc.

tio

** For long pieces

ling

One unit

bi

pn

(A) Plate of ~

Spaghetti, rice

wn

(A) bowl of ~

Rice, soup

(A) glass/cup of ~ Juice, water, wine

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