This is a complete list of Mandarin Chinese classifiers, otherwise known as “measure words”.
Don’t know what a classifier is? Check out my post on Chinese Classifiers: What are they and how to use them.
Briefly explained, Chinese uses what is known as “classifiers” or “measure words”, these are the equivalent of “cup”, “bottle” or “bags” in the English sentences “a cup of tea”, “a bottle of milk” and “a bag of apples”. As an example in the sentence ”one cup of tea”, or literally “one cup tea”,
The following lists have been broken down into general, measure word, money, time, weight and length classifiers.
Table of Contents
Chinese general classifiers
| Classifier | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bǎ |
handful | a chair (yī bǎ yǐzi) |
| bǎ |
small objects | a handful of flour (yī bǎ miànfěn) |
| běn |
volume | a book (yī běn shū) |
| cè |
book/booklet | three volumes (sān cè) |
| céng |
layers | two layers of ice cream (liǎng céng bīng jī lín) |
| céng |
stories | ten stories (shí céng) |
| chǎng |
game | two games (matches) (liǎng chǎng bǐsài) |
| chǎng |
film | a movie (yī chǎng diànyǐng) |
| chǎng |
scene | act one, scene three (dì yī mù dì sān chǎng) |
| chù |
location or site | a construction site (yīgè jiànzhú gōngdì) |
| chù |
site | this mine site (zhè chù kuàngshān) |
| chū |
play or performance | a play (yī chū jù) |
| cì |
times | first time (yīcì) |
| cì |
opportunities | this opportunity (zhè cì jīhuì) |
| dào |
dishes (of food) | one dish (yīdào cài) |
| dào |
rays (of light) | a ray of light (yīdào guāng) |
| dào |
doors | two doors (liǎng dàomén) |
| dào |
walls | one wall (yīdào qiáng) |
| dǐng |
hats and headware | a hat (yī dǐng màozi) |
| dòng |
buildings | one building (yī dòng dàlóu) |
| dǔ |
walls | one wall (yī dǔ qiáng) |
| dǔ |
fence and enclosures | one fence (yī dǔ wéiqiáng) |
| dùn |
meal | a meal (yī dùn fàn) |
| duǒ |
flowers | a flower (yī duǒ huā) |
| duǒ |
clouds | a cloud (yī duǒ yún) |
| fā |
rounds (shots) | one shot / a bullet (yī fà zǐdàn) |
| fèn |
copy (of document, newspaper) | a newspaper (yī fèn bàozhǐ) |
| fèn |
copy (of contract) | a contract (yī fèn hétóng) |
| fèn |
portion | a dessert or snack portion (yī fèn diǎnxīn) |
| fēng |
an email (yī fēng diànzǐ yóujiàn) |
|
| fēng |
letter | a letter (yī fēng xìn) |
| fēng |
fax | a fax (yīgè chuánzhēn) |
| fú |
artwork | a painting (yīfú huà er) |
| gǎn |
long objects | a rifle (yī gǎn bùqiāng) |
| gǎn |
long objects | a fishing rod (yī gǎn diàoyú) |
| ge (gè) |
people and general classifier | two people (liǎng gèrén) |
| gēn |
long thin obejcts | a needle (yī gēn zhēn) |
| gēn |
long thin obejcts | a matchstick (yī gēn huǒchái) |
| gēn |
long thin obejcts | a power pole (yī gēn diàn gān) |
| hào |
a number of people | one hundred people (yībǎi hào rén) |
| jiā |
hotels | a hotel (yījiā jiǔdiàn) |
| jiā |
companies | a company (yījiā gōngsī) |
| jiā |
shops | a shop (yījiā shāngdiàn) |
| jiā |
restuarants | a restaurant (yījiā fàndiàn) |
| jià |
aircraft | an aeroplane (yī jià fēijī) |
| jià |
machine | a wheelchair (yī jià lúnyǐ) |
| jiàn |
clothing | five shirts (wǔ jiàn chènshān) |
| jiàn |
matters | a matter (yī jiàn shì) |
| jiàn |
piece of furniture | a piece of furniture (yī jiàn jiājù) |
| jiè |
conferences | a conference (yī jiè huìyì) |
| jiè |
class years | class of 2020 (2020 jiè dàzhuān shēng) |
| juǎn |
rolls | a roll of toilet paper (yī juàn wèishēngzhǐ) |
| kē |
trees | 100 trees (yībǎi kē shù) |
| kē |
small sphermical objects | a tooth (yī kē yáchǐ) |
| kē |
small sphermical objects | a seed (yī kē zhǒngzǐ) |
| kǒu |
well (for water) | a well (yīkǒu jǐng) |
| kǒu |
knife | a knife (yīkǒu dāo) |
| kǒu |
a mouthful | a sip/drink of water (yīkǒu shuǐ) |
| kǒu |
people | 10 people (shí kǒu rén) |
| lèi |
category | two kinds of people (liǎng lèi rén) |
| lèi |
kind of | this kind of thing (zhè lèi shìwù) |
| lèi |
situation | this situation / such situations (zhè lèi qíngkuàng.) |
| lì |
small object / grains | a bean (Yī lì dòuzi) |
| liàng |
vehicles | three cars (sān liàng chē) |
| liè |
wheeled vehicles | this train (zhè liè huǒchē) |
| liè |
row / column | a row of people (yīliè rén) |
| lún |
round of competition | this competition round (zhè lún bǐsài) |
| lún |
large round objects | a moon (yī lún yuèliàng) |
| lún |
round of talks | a round of talks (yī lún huìtán) |
| méi |
flat metal | a gold coin (yī méi jīnbì) |
| méi |
small things to be cautious of | an egg (yī méi jīdàn) |
| méi |
small things to be cautious of | a grenade (yī méi shǒuliúdàn) |
| méi |
small things to be cautious of | a ring (yī méi jièzhǐ) |
| mén |
courses / classes | a course (yī mén kèchéng) |
| mén |
classes of technology | a science (yī mén kēxué) |
| miàn |
flat or smooth objects | a mirror (yīmiàn jìngzi) |
| míng |
honorific | a doctor (yī míng yīshēng) |
| pán |
plate | a plate of pancakes (yī pán jiānbing) |
| pán |
flat objects | a disc (CD) (yī pán dié piàn) |
| pào, pāo |
infuse | a tea (yī pào chá) |
| pǐ |
horse | a horse (yī pǐ mǎ) |
| pǐ |
bolt (of cloth) | a bolt of cloth (yī pǐ bù) |
| piān |
written article | an article (yī piān wénzhāng) |
| piàn |
flat objects / slice | a slice of bread (yīpiàn miànbāo) |
| qǐ |
cases / instance / / groups | an accident (yīqǐ shìgù) |
| qǐ |
cases / instance / / groups | two cases (liǎng qǐ shìjiàn) |
| shàn |
doors | a door (yī shàn mén) |
| shàn |
windows | two windows (liǎng shàn chuāng) |
| shǒu |
songs / music | a song (yī shǒu chànggē) |
| shǒu |
poems | this poem (zhè shǒu shī) |
| shuǐ |
rinsings / washings | I washed the trousers / pants two times (wǒ kùzi xǐle liǎng shuǐle) |
| sōu |
ship | a vessel (yī chuán) |
| suǒ |
a building | a building (yī suǒ xuéxiào) |
| suǒ |
a building | a house (yī suǒ fángzi) |
| tái |
machines | a computer (yī tái diànnǎo) |
| tái |
machines | a washing machine (yī tái xǐyījī) |
| táng |
class periods | a class / lesson (yītáng kè) |
| táng |
scenes | a mural (yītáng bìhuà) |
| tàng |
journeys | a journey (yī tàng lǚchéng) |
| tàng |
flights | a flight (yī tàng bānjī) |
| tàng |
scheduled transport or trips | a train (bus) ticket (yī tàng chē de piào) |
| tí |
exam / test questions | two questions (liǎng tí) |
| tiáo |
trousers | a pair of trousers / pants (yītiáo kùzi) |
| tiáo |
ships | one ship (yītiáo chuán) |
| tiáo |
bed sheets | one bed sheet (yītiáo chuángdān) |
| tiáo |
soap | a bar of soap (yītiáo féizào) |
| tiáo |
news | a piece of news (yītiáo xīnwén) |
| tiáo |
long objects | a road (yītiáo lù) |
| tiáo |
long objects | a river (yītiáo hé) |
| tiáo |
lives | a life (yītiáo rénmìng) |
| tóu |
head of livestock | 100 head of cattle (yībǎi tóu niú) |
| tóu |
garlic | three bulbs of garlic (sān tóu suàn) |
| tóu |
lettuce | a head of lettuce (yītóu wōjù) |
| tóu |
hair (used with modifier) | a head of black hair (yītóu hēi tóufǎ) |
| wěi |
fish (not commonly used, ancient) | a fish (yī wěi yú) |
| wèi |
people (polite) | three people (sān wèi rén) |
| xiàng |
projects | a research project (yī xiàng yánjiū) |
| xiàng |
law / ordinance | a law / ordinance (yītiáo fǎlìng) |
| xiǔ |
overnight stay / nights | stay one night (zhù yī sù) |
| yàng |
types | four things (sì yáng chènshān) |
| zé |
news item | a piece of news (yī zé xīnwén) |
| zé |
information / notice | a piece of information (yī zé xiāoxī) |
| zé |
jokes | a joke (yī zé xiàohuà) |
| zé |
writing item | a news item (yī zé xiāoxī) |
| zhǎn |
lamps | a lamp (yī zhǎn dēng) |
| zhǎn |
small cup | a small cup of tea (yī zhǎn chá) |
| zhāng |
flat objects | a table (yī zhāng zhuōzi) |
| zhāng |
flat objects | one piece of paper (yī zhāng zhǐ) |
| zhāng |
flat objects | a ticket (yī zhāng piào) |
| zhī |
animals | a bird (yī zhǐ niǎo) |
| zhī |
one of a pair | a hand (yīzhī shǒu) |
| zhī |
long stick-like items | a pen (yī zhī bǐ) |
| zhī |
long stick-like items | a chopstick (yī zhǐ kuàizi) |
| zhī |
stalks / stems | two stalks of flowers (liǎng zhī huā) |
| zhī |
stick / rod | a rifle (yī zhī bùqiāng) |
| zhī |
stick / rod | a pen (yī zhī bǐ) |
| zhǒng |
kind of | one kind of method (yī zhǒng bànfǎ) |
| zhǒng |
species | one species of bat (yī zhǒng biānfú) |
| zhū |
plants / trees | an apple tree (yī zhū píngguǒ shù) |
| zhù |
pillar | a column of smoke (yī zhù yān) |
| zūn |
statue | a statue of buddha (yīzūn fóxiàng) |
| zūn |
artillary | a cannon (yīzūn dàpào) |
| zuò |
immovable objects | a mountain (yīzuò shān) |
| zuò |
immovable objects | an apartment building (yīzuò gōngyù) |
Chinese measure world classifiers
| Classifier | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bǎ |
objects that can be held in your hand | a bunch of candles (yī bǎ làzhú) |
| bǎ |
budle | a bundle of flowers (yī bǎ huā) |
| bǎ |
objects with a handle | a knife (yī bǎ dāo) |
| bǎ |
abstract ideas | have strength (yǒu bǎ lìqì) |
| bān |
public transport | a bus (yī bān gōngchē) |
| bān |
students | a class of students (yī bān xuéshēng rén) |
| bāng |
group of noisy, bad, lively people | a group/bunch of kids (yī bāng háizi) |
| bāng |
a gang | a gang/bunch of thieves (yī bāng qièzéi) |
| bāo |
bag, pouch or pack | a pack of cigarettes (yī bāo yān) |
| bāo |
package | a pack of money (yī bāo qián) |
| bēi |
cup | a cup of coffee (yībēi kā fēi) |
| bèi |
generation | a generation (yī bèi rén) |
| bǐ |
large amount of money | sum of money (yī bǐ qián) |
| chuàn |
bunch | a bunch of grapes (yī chuàn pútáo) |
| chuàn |
cluster | a bunch of keys (yī chuàn yàoshi) |
| chuàn |
skewer | a skewer of fish balls (yī chuàn yú wán) |
| chuáng |
bed items | a blanket (yī chuáng tǎnzi) |
| dá |
stack | a stack of paper (yī dá zhǐ) |
| dá |
wad | a wad of $100 bills (yī dá 100 měiyuán) |
| dài |
bag | a bag of rice (yī dài mǐ) |
| dī |
droplet | a droplet of water (yī dīshuǐ) |
| diǎn |
bit | a bit of stuff (yīdiǎn dōngxī) |
| diǎn |
thought / idea | an idea (yīdiǎn xiǎngfǎ) |
| duàn |
length | a length of netting (yīduàn wǎng) |
| duàn |
section | a section of pipe (yīduàn guǎn) |
| duī |
pile | a pile of rubble (yī duī wǎlì) |
| duī |
pile | a pile of rubbish (yī duī lèsè) |
| duì |
pair / couple | a pair of shoulders (yī duì jiānbǎng) |
| duì |
pair / couple | a pair of earrings (yī duì ěrhuán) |
| fú |
dose | a dose of medicine (yī fúyào) |
| fù |
pair | a pair of gloves (yī fù shǒutào) |
| gǔ |
puff | a puff of cigarette smoke (yī gǔ yān wèi) |
| gǔ |
flow / jet | a jet of steam (yī gǔ rèqì) |
| guǎn |
tube | a tube of toothpaste (yī guǎn yágāo) |
| guàn |
can / tin | a can of pineapple (yī guàn bōluó) |
| háng |
row | a row of trees (yīxíng shù) |
| háng |
line | a line of verse (yī háng shījù) |
| hé |
(small) box of | a box of cake (yī hé dàngāo) |
| hù |
household | a household (yī hù rénjiā) |
| hú |
pot / kettle | a pot of tea (yī hú chá) |
| hú |
jug | a jug of water (yī hú shuǐ) |
| huǒ |
band of people | a band of robbers (yī huǒ qiángdào) |
| jì |
dose | a dose of medicine (yī jì yào) |
| jié |
section / segment | a setion of pipe (yī jié guǎnzi) |
| jié |
knots (nautical) | a speed of ten knots (shí jié de sùdù) |
| jié |
lesson | a lesson (yī jié kè) |
| jù |
sentence | a word (yījù huà) |
| kǒu |
mouthful | a bite of a sandwich (yīkǒu sānmíngzhì) |
| kuài |
piece / chunk | a biscuit (yīkuài bǐnggān) |
| kuài |
lump | a rock (yīkǒu shítou) |
| kuài |
lump | a piece of toufu (yīkǒu dòufu) |
| kǔn |
bundle of stick-like objects | a bundle of firewood (yī kǔn mùchái) |
| kǔn |
bundle of stick-like objects | a bundle of bamboo (yī kǔn zhúzi) |
| kǔn |
bundle | a bundle of clothes (yī kǔn yī fú) |
| liǎ |
coloquial equivalent of 两个 | you two (nǐmen liǎ rén) |
| luò (luǒ) |
stack / pile | a stack of paper (yī luò zhǐ) |
| lǚ |
plume | a plume of smoke (yī lǚ chuīyān) |
| lǚ |
strand | a strand of hair (yī lǚ tóufǎ) |
| pái |
row | a row of seats (yī pái zuòwèi) |
| pī |
shipment | a shipment of goods (yī pī huò) |
| pī |
batch | a batch of photos (yī pī zhàopiàn) |
| pī |
large group of people | a broup of students (yī pī xuéshēng) |
| píng |
bottle | a bottle of wine (yī píng pútáojiǔ) |
| qī |
issues of a publication | first issue of a magazine (dì yī qí zázhì) |
| qún |
group of people | a group of students (yīqún xuéshēng) |
| qún |
herd of animals | a herd of horses (yīqún mǎ) |
| sā |
alternative to 三个 | three people (sā rén) |
| shù |
bundle | a bouquet of fresh flowers (yī shù xiānhuā) |
| shù |
beam of light | a beam of light (yī shù guāng) |
| shuāng |
a pair of objects that are naturall paired | a pair of chopsticks (yīshuāng kuàizi) |
| tào |
set | a set of books (yī tào shū) |
| tīng |
can / tin | a can of meat (yī tīng ròu) |
| tuán |
ball | a ball of wool (yī tuán máoxiàn) |
| tuán |
ball | a ball of dough (yī tuán miàn) |
| tuó |
lump | a lump of feces / stool (yī tuó shǐ) |
| wǎn |
a bowl of something | a bowl of noodles (yī wǎn miàntiáo) |
| xiē |
a few (used without demonstrative number) | these few questions (zhèxiē wèntí) |
| xiē |
a few (used in 一些 form) | a few people (yīxiē rén) |
| xíng |
a group | a group of people (yīxíng rén) |
| xíng |
a line | a line of characters (yīxíng wénzì) |
| zā |
revolutions | turn count (zā shù) |
| zhèn |
burst | a burst of applause (yī zhèn zhǎngshēng) |
| zhèn |
gust | a gust of wind (yīzhènfēng) |
| zhù |
a sum of | a sum of money (yī zhù qián) |
| zhù |
pour | pour milk (zhù nǎi) |
| zǔ |
set | a set of guidelines (yī zǔ zhǐnán) |
Chinese money classifiers
| Classifier | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| yuán |
Yuan | one Yuan (yīyuán) |
| kuài |
Yuan (colloquial or slang) | one Yuan (yīkuài) |
| jiǎo |
1/10 Yuan | 1/10 Yuan (yījiǎo) |
| máo |
1/10 Yuan | 1/10 Yuan (yī máo) |
| fēn |
Cent | One cent (yī fèn) |
Chinese time classifiers
| Classifier | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| miǎo |
second | one second (yī miǎo zhōng) |
| fēn |
minute | one minute (yī fēnzhōng) |
| kè |
quarter (15 minutes) | quarter of an hour (yīkè zhōng) |
| tiān |
day | one day (yītiān) |
| rì |
day | one day (yī rì) |
| nián |
year | one year (yī nián) |
| zǎi |
year (ancient) | half year (bàn zǎi) |
| suì |
years old | ten years old (shí suì) |
Chinese weight classifeirs
| Classifier | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| kè |
gram | one gram (yī kè) |
| liǎng |
1/10 Jin or 50 grams | 50 grams (yī liǎng) |
| jiālùn |
gallon | one gallon (yī jiālún) |
| jīn |
pound or 1/2 kilogram | half a kilogram (yī jīn) |
| gōngjīn |
kilogram (metric jin) | one kilogram (yī gōngjīn) |
| qiānkè |
1000 grams (one kilogram) | one kilogram (yī qiānkè) |
| dūn |
metric tonne | one tonne (yī dūn) |
Chiense length and distance classifiers
| Classifier | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| gōngfēn |
cemtimeter | one centimeter (yī gōngfēn) |
| límǐ |
cemtimeter | one centimeter (yī límǐ) |
| cùn |
1/3 decimeter, Chinese Inch, 1/30 of a metre | one Chinese Inch (yīcùn) |
| cùn |
British inch | one British inch (yī cùn) |
| chǐ |
Chinese foot (1/3 metre) | on Chinese foot (yī chǐ) |
| chǐ |
English foot | one English foot (yī chǐ) |
| yīngchǐ |
English foot | one English foot (yī yīngchǐ) |
| gōngchǐ |
metre | one metre (yī gōng chǐ) |
| mǐ |
metre | one metre (yī mǐ) |
| lǐ |
500 metres | 500 metres (yī lǐ) |
| lǐ |
English mile | one English mile (yī lī) |
| yīnglǐ |
English mile | one English mile (yī yīnglǐ) |
| Hǎilǐ |
nautical mile | one nautical mile (yī hǎilǐ) |
| gōnglǐ |
kilometre | one kilometre (yī gōnglǐ) |
| tiānwéndānwèi |
astronomical unit | one astronomical unit (yī tiānwén dānwèi) |
| guāngnián |
ligh year | one light year (yī guāng nián) |
| miǎochājù |
parsec | one parsec (yī miǎo chājù) |