Use of 每 (měi) in Chinese language

We just learned that measure words are reduplicated in Chinese language to emphasize commonality among different members of a group. And you must be thinking, isn’t that what每 (měi) is used for? Yes, just like reduplicated measure words, 每 (měi) can be used to stress commonality. See example below:

每个学生都学习中文
měi gè xuéshēng dōu xuéxí zhōngwén
All the students study Chinese language

However, unlike reduplicated measure words, 每 (měi) can also be used to emphasize individuality among different group members:

我们十个学生，每个人学习的语言不同
wǒmen shí gè xuéshēng, měi gèrén xuéxí de yǔyán bùtóng
Each one of us ten students study different languages

We also learned that reduplicated measure words and nouns cannot be used as objects. But每 (měi) can be:

你要把书给每一个学生
nǐ yào bǎ shū gěi měi yī gè xuéshēng
You should give a book to every student

Reduplication of measure words and nouns

We have already learned the reduplication of verbs and reduplication of adjectives in Chinese language. And we have also learned what the measure words are. Now why not learn a bit about the reduplication of measure words.

Reduplicated measure words denote the inclusion of the entirety without exception. It is used to emphasize that all the individual members of a group share the same qualities or exist in the same state. See the example below:

他们个个都喜欢用筷子
tāmen gè gè dōu xǐhuan yòng kuàizi
They all like to use chopsticks

Similarly some nouns like 人，年 and 天 can also be reduplicated for the same purpose:

现在人人都关心北京的绿化
Xiànzài rén rén dōu guānxīn běijīng de lǜhuà
These days everyone is concerned about Beijing’s greenery.

However please note that reduplicated measure words and nouns cannot be used as objects. The sentence 我告诉人人 would be incorrect.

Measure words: 把 (bǎ) and 本 (běn)

Let’s pick up where we left off and look at couple more measure words in Chinese language. We have already learned 个 (gè), 只 (zhǐ), 顶 (dǐng), 张 (zhāng) and 条 (tiáo). Today let’s learn when to use the measure words 把 (bǎ) and 本 (běn).

把 (bǎ)

把 (bǎ) is a measure word most commonly used to quantify objects that can be grasped or objects with a handle. Few examples below:

一把刀 (yī bǎ dāo): a knife
一把椅子 (yī bǎ yǐzi): a chair
一把茶壶 (yī bǎ cháhú): a teapot

It can also be used to quantify a handful of something:

一把米 (yī bǎ mǐ): a handful of rice
一把花 (yī bǎ huā): a bunch of flowers

本 (běn)

本 (běn) is a measure word used for books.

一本书 (yī běn shū): a book
一本小说 (yī běn xiǎoshuō): a novel
一本字典 (yī běn zìdiǎn): a dictionary

It can also be used to quantify bound documents or paper products:

一本相册 (yī běn xiàngcè): a photo album

Measure words: 张 (zhāng) and 条 (tiáo)

As promised earlier, today we will look at two more measure words in Chinese language, 张 (zhāng) and 条 (tiáo) in more detail. So here we go:

张 (zhāng)

张 (zhāng) is a measure word most commonly used for objects with flat surfaces. Few examples:

一张纸 (yī zhāng zhǐ): a piece of paper

一张桌子 (yī zhāng zhuōzi): a table

一张床 (yī zhāng chuáng): a bed

张 (zhāng) can also be used with objects that can be opened and closed:

一张嘴 (yī zhāng zuǐ): a mouth

一张弓 (yī zhāng gōng): a bow

条 (tiáo)

条 (tiáo) is a measure word most commonly used for elongated objects. Few examples:

两条腿 (liǎng tiáo tuǐ): two legs

一条路 (yī tiáo lù): a road

一条河 (yī tiáo hé): a river

条 (tiáo) is also used to quantify some animals

两条鱼 (liǎng tiáo yú): a fish

一条蛇 (yī tiáo shé): a snake

Measure words: 只 (zhī) and 顶 (dǐng)

Couple of posts ago, we watched a video to learn about the measure words in Chinese language, and looked at the most common measure word, 个 (gè), in more detail. In the same post I also introduced few other measure words, 只 (zhī) ，张 (zhāng) ，条 (tiáo) and 顶 (dǐng). Today let’s learn when and how to use the measure words 只 (zhī) and 顶 (dǐng).

只 (zhī)

只 (zhī) is a measure word most commonly used to quantify one of a pair. Few examples:

两只眼睛 (liǎng zhī yǎnjīng): two eyes

两只手 (liǎng zhī shǒu): two hands

一只鞋 (yī zhī xié): one shoe

It is also used to quantify animals, boats and containers:

一只鸡 (yī zhī jī): one chicken

一只船 (yī zhī chuan): one boat

两只箱子 (liǎng zhī xiāngzi): two suitcases

顶 (dǐng)

顶 (dǐng) is a measure word for something with a top. It is most commonly used to quantify hats, caps. Few examples:

一顶帽子 (yī dǐng màozi): a hat

一顶帐子 (yī dǐng zhàngzi): a mosquito net

I hope this post was helpful on learning about the usage of measure words 只 (zhī) and 顶 (dǐng). Next post we will look at the measure words 张 (zhāng) and 条 (tiáo) in more detail.

Measure words in Chinese language

I know I have already used this video before. I am going to use it again, but this time for a different reason.

Other than the body parts what else did you notice? Yes, the measure words. 个 (gè)，只 (zhǐ)，张 (zhāng)，条 (tiáo)，顶 (dǐng) are all measure words. Measure words are used in the Chinese language when using numbers to quantify people or things. Numbers cannot be directly attached to nouns. They take the following structure:

Number + Measure Word + Noun

The most widely used measure word is 个 (gè), and it is most commonly used to quantify people:

一个人 (yī gè rén): one person

两个朋友 (liǎng gè péngyǒu): two friends

三个老师 (sān gè lǎoshī): three teachers

个 (gè) however is not only used to quantify people, it is also used to quantify other objects. Few examples:

一个土豆 (yī gè tǔdòu): a potato

五个汉字 (wǔ gè hànzì): five Chinese characters

六个大学 (liù gè dàxué): six universities

两个地方 (liǎng gè dìfāng): two places

This post is a brief introduction of measure words. I will be writing more posts in the future introducing new measure words and how to use them.