Chinese Measure Words
In the Chinese language, simple numerals cannot quantify an object by itself. Measure words, also known as classifiers, are used along with numerals to define the quantity of an object. There are two types of measure words, nominal and verbal, with the latter being used to quantify verbs and the number of times they occur. This table provides a complete list of Chinese measure words used in modern Chinese. Click the Pinyin to hear the pronunciation of the measure word.

Chinese Measure Words
(Order by Pinyin)

No.ChinesePinyinUsage
1measure word for bunches of things and the things with handles
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2bānmeasure word for groups of students, flights
e.g. , ,
3bànmeasure word for oranges and garlic
e.g. , , 西
4bāngmeasure word for groups of people
e.g. , ,
5bàngpound,unit of weight
e.g. 西, , , ,
6bāomeasure word for things in packages and bags
e.g. , , , , ,
7bēimeasure word for liquids such as wine and tea,etc.
e.g. , , , , , , , , , ,
8bèimeasure word for generations
e.g.
9bèimeasure word for times and folds
e.g. ,
10běnmeasure word for books
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
11measure word for sums of money or transactions
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , ., , , ,
12biànmeasure word for actions(one time)
e.g.
13measure word for small groups of people
e.g.
14measure word for films,machine,dictionaries
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , ,
15cānmeasure word for meals
e.g.
16measure word for books
e.g. ,
17cénglayers, levels
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
18chǎngmeasure word for events,films,shows
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
19chēvehicle, measure word for things transported by vehicles
e.g. , ,
20chéngmeasure word for degrees or levels
e.g. , ,
21chípool,pond
e.g.
22chǐa Chinese foot, unit of length
e.g. ,
23chūmeasure word for dramas, plays, operas
e.g. , , , ,
24chùmeasure word for locations
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25chuànmeasure word for for items that come in bunches or clusters
e.g. , , , , , ,
26chuángmeasure word for sheets
e.g. , , ,
27measure word for enumerated events
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
28measure word for bunched objects
e.g. ,
29cùnunit of length
e.g. , ,
30cuōmeasure word for small groups of people
e.g.
31measure word of dozens of things
e.g.
32dàimeasure word for things in bags or sacks
e.g. , , , ,
33dàimeasure word for generations
e.g.
34dānpicul, a unit of mass in China and Southeast Asia
e.g. , ,
35dàngmeasure word for grades or levels
e.g. ,
36dàomeasure word for long things
e.g. , , 线, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
37measure word for drops
e.g. , , , , , , , , , ,
38diǎna little of something, unit of time
e.g. , , , 西, , , , , , , , , ,
39diémeasure word for things in stacks
e.g. ,
40dǐngmeasure word for things that have a top
e.g. , 轿, , , ,
41dìngmeasure word for ingots, gold or silver
e.g. ,
42dòngmeasure word for buildings
e.g. , ,
43measure word for walls,fences
e.g.
44duànmeasure word for segments of strings, time or roads
e.g. , 线,
45duīmeasure word for things in stacks or piles
e.g. , , , , , , , , ,
46duìmeasure word for things in pairs
e.g. , , , , ,
47duìmeasure word for groups of people
e.g. , ,
48dūnton,metric ton
e.g. , , , , , , , , ,
49dùnmeasure word for meals, beating,etc(time, bout, spell, meal)
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , 西, , ,
50duǒmeasure word for lowers,clouds
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , ,
51measure word for gunshots (rounds)
e.g. ,
52fānmeasure word for repeated actions
e.g. , , , , ,
53fāngmeasure word for square things such as ink stones
e.g. , ,
54fēnmeasure word for grades, time, and money
e.g.
55fēnzhōnga minute, measure word of time
e.g.
56fènmeasure word for gifts, jobs,newspaper, magazine, papers, reports, contracts etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 西, , , , , , , ,
57fēngmeasure word for sealed objects( letters) and telegrams
e.g. , ,
58fēngmeasure word for camels
e.g.
59measure word for textiles or pictures
e.g. , , , , , , ,
60measure word for medicine
e.g. ,
61measure word for voltages
e.g.
62measure word for Chinese medicine
e.g.
63measure word for sets of things and facial expressions
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , ,
64gǎnmeasure word for stick like things such as guns
e.g. , , ,
65gāngjug, crock, measure word for water or wines
e.g. ,
66individual, unit
e.g. ,
67gēnmeasure word for long slender objects, e.g. cigarettes, guitar strings
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 线, , 线, , , , , , , , , , ,
68gōngchǐmeter
e.g.
69gōngfēncentimeter
e.g. , ,
70gōngjīnkilogram
e.g. , , ,
71gōngkilometer
e.g. ,
72gōngqǐnghectare
e.g. , ,
73gōngshēngliter
e.g. , , ,
74measure word for smells,electric currents,spirals etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , ,
75guàmeasure word for things in strings such as firecracks
e.g. ,
76guǎnmeasure word for tubular shapred things such as toothpastes
e.g.
77guànmeasure of jars or cans of things
e.g. ,
78hángmeasure word for lines of text or trees
e.g. , ,
79háomillimeter, unit of length
e.g. , , ,
80háoshēngmilliliter,unit of volume
e.g. , ,
81hàomeasure word for people
e.g.
82measure word for things in a box or case
e.g. ,
83measure word for liquids
e.g. , , ,
84measure word for households and families
e.g.
85huímeasure word for acts of a play or section or chapter
e.g. ,
86huǒmeasure word for groups of people
e.g. , , , ,
87measure word for steps and ranks
e.g. , , ,
88measure word for striking actions
e.g.
89dose,measure word for medicines
e.g.
90jiāmeasure word for families or businesses
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
91jiālúngallon
e.g. , ,
92jiàmeasure word for planes, large vehicles, radios etc
e.g. , , ,
93jiàcombination measure word for number of flights
e.g.
94jiānmeasure word for rooms and houses
e.g. , , , , , , , , ,
95jiànmeasure word for events, things, clothes etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 西, , , , , , , , , , ,
96jiǎomeasure word for money(10 cents)
e.g.
97jiémeasure word for sections and segments
e.g. ,
98jiémeasure word for segments, lessons, train wagons, biblical verses
e.g. , , , , ,
99jièmeasure word for events, meetings, elections, sporting fixtures etc
e.g. , , , , ,
100jīncatty,weight equal to half a kilogram
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
101measure word for games such as chess and match
e.g. ,
102measure word for devices, coffins and dead bodies
e.g. ,
103measure word for phrases or lines of verse
e.g. , , , , ,
104juǎnmeasure word for rolls such as films, books and paintings
e.g. ,
105measure word for trees, cabbages, plants etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
106measure word for small spheres, pearls, corn grains, hearts, satellites etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , 齿, , , , ,
107gram
e.g. ,
108measure word for lessons of texts
e.g.
109unit of time, quarter of hour
e.g.
110kǒngmeasure word for cavity like things
e.g.
111kǒumeasure word for things with mouths such as people, domestic animals, cannons, wells etc
e.g. , , , , , , ,
112kuàimeasure word for pieces, chunks, monetary units
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 西, , , ,
113kuāngmeasure word for baskets of things
e.g.
114kǔnmeasure word for bunches and bundles
e.g. , , , ,
115lánmeasure word for baskets of things
e.g. ,
116lèimeasure word for categories
e.g. , , , , ,
117unit of length equal to 500 meters
e.g. ,
118measure word for small round things (peas, bullets, peanuts, pills, grains etc)
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , ,
119fāngcubic meter (unit of volume)
e.g. , , , ,
120liǎngmeasure word for tea and gold etc.
e.g. ,
121liàngmeasure word for vehicles
e.g. , , , 轿, , , 轿, , , , , , , , , , ,
122lièmeasure word for series
e.g. , , ,
123lúnmeasure word for matches and negotiations
e.g. , , ,
124luòmeasure word for things that can be put in stacks such as books and boxes
e.g. , ,
125measure word for hair, hemp and smoke etc.
e.g. , , , ,
126máodime (one-tenth of yuan),measure word for money
e.g.
127méimeasure word for coins,rings,badges,pearls,sporting medals,rockets etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , ,
128ménmeasure word for large guns, lessons, subjects, etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , ,
129meter
e.g. , ,
130miànmeasure word for flat surfaces such as drums, mirrors and flags
e.g. , , , , , ,
131miǎomeasure word for time
e.g.
132míngmeasure word for people
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
133measure word for land and fields
e.g. , ,
134measure word for plays and shows
e.g. , ,
135niánunit of time, year
e.g.
136páimeasure word for things that can be arranged in rows
e.g. , , , ,
137pàimeasure word for school of thoughts and factions
e.g. , , ,
138pánmeasure word for food, coils and matches
e.g. , , , , , 线, , , , , ,
139pàomeasure word for urine and stool
e.g. 尿,
140pénmeasure word for water and other liquids
e.g. ,
141measure word for horses, mules and bolts of cloth
e.g. , , , ,
142measure word for batches
e.g. , , , , , , , , , ,
143piānmeasure word for written items such as chapter and articles
e.g. , , , 稿, , , , , , , , , ,
144piànmeasure word for pieces of things
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 西, , , , , , , ,
145píngmeasure word for wine and liquids
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
146píngfānggōngsquare-kilometer
e.g. , ,
147píngfāngsquare meter,unit of area
e.g. ,
148measure word for things that can be divided into periods of time such as magazines
e.g. ,
149measure word for cases or unpredictable events
e.g. , , ,
150qiānkilogram
e.g. ,
151qiānkilowatt (unit of electric power)
e.g. ,
152qiāngmeasure word for a body cavity
e.g.
153qǐngunit of area equal to 100 mu
e.g.
154measure word for tunes or songs
e.g. ,
155qúnmeasure word for people and animals
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 鹿, , , , , , , ,
156réncombination measure word for number of people participating
e.g.
157rénniáncombination measure word for effort estimates
e.g.
158a day, measure word for time
e.g.
159shànmeasure word for windows and doors
e.g. , ,
160sháomeasure word for liquid foods such as soup
e.g.
161shēnmeasure word for clothes
e.g. 西,
162shēngliter,measure word for dry grain
e.g. , , , ,
163shēngmeasure word for sounds
e.g. , ,
164shǒumeasure word for things relating to skills, such as cooking and calligraphy
e.g. , ,
165shǒumeasure word for poems and songs
e.g. , , , ,
166shùmeasure word for bunches,bundles,beams of light etc
e.g. , , ,
167shuāngmeasure word for things that are in pairs, such as chopsticks and shoes
e.g. , , , , , , ,
168a bit, measure word for wires and strings
e.g.
169sōumeasure word for ships and vessels
e.g. , , , , , , , ,
170suǒmeasure word for houses, small buildings, institutions etc
e.g. , , , , , ,
171táimeasure word for machines and computers
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
172tānmeasure word for paste-like substances
e.g. , ,
173tānmeasure word for things or business that needed to be handled
e.g. ,
174tánmeasure word for liquids such as wine
e.g. ,
175tángmeasure word for classes
e.g.
176tàngmeasure word for times and trips
e.g. , , , , ,
177tàomeasure word for sets and collections
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 西, , , , ,
178tiānmeasure word for days
e.g. , ,
179tiáomeasure word for long thin things (ribbon, river, road, trousers etc)
e.g. , , 便, , , , , , , , , , , , , 线, , , , , , , 线, , , , , , , , , , 线, , , , , , , , 线, , , , , , 线, , , , , , , , , , , , 线, , 线
180tiēmeasure word for things that can be stuck on such as plasters
e.g.
181tīngmeasure word for canned beverages
e.g. ,
182tǐngmeasure word for machine guns
e.g.
183tōngmeasure word for conversations
e.g. ,
184tǒngmeasure word for tube shaped things
e.g. ,
185tǒngmeasure word for water,oil and other liquids
e.g. , , , ,
186tóumeasure word for pigs and other livestock, etc
e.g. , , , , 鹿, , , , , ,
187tuánmeasure word for rice or woolen yarn
e.g. , , , , , 线
188tuómeasure word for mud pieces
e.g. ,
189wánmeasure word for Chinese medicine
e.g.
190wǎnmeasure word for food or drink
e.g. , , ,
191wēimicron (one thousandth of a millimeter)
e.g. ,
192wěimeasure word for fish
e.g.
193wèimeasure word for people or binary bits(computer)
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , 使, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
194measure word for animals
e.g. , , ,
195measure word for banquets and conversations
e.g. ,
196lièmeasure word for series
e.g. ,
197xiàmeasure word of the frequency of an action (verbal measure word)
e.g.
198线xiànmeasure word for ray or hope
e.g. ,
199xiāngmeasure word for cases of things
e.g. , , ,
200xiàngmeasure word for principles, items, tasks and projects
e.g. , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
201xiēfew,some,several
e.g. 西, , , , , , ,
202宿xiǔmeasure word for nights
e.g. 宿
203yǎnmeasure word for wells
e.g.
204yàngmanner,pattern,shape
e.g. , , 西, ,
205measure word for pages of books
e.g. , ,
206a night, measure word for time
e.g.
207yīngacre, measure word for land
e.g. , ,
208yuánmeasure word for certain kinds of people such as army generals
e.g. ,
209yuánmonetary unit
e.g. ,
210measure word for number of revolutions, times to go around
e.g.
211zǎiyear
e.g.
212measure word for short sections of written documents
e.g. , , , ,
213zhǎnmeasure word for lamps
e.g. ,
214zhànmeasure word for stops of buses and trains
e.g.
215zhāngmeasure word for chapters of novels
e.g.
216zhāngmeasure word for paper, newspaper, forms, desks, tables or mouths, etc.
e.g. 便, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 稿, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
217zhàngunit of length equal 3.3 meters
e.g.
218zhènmeasure word for events or states of short duration
e.g. , , , , , , ,
219zhèngmeasure word for pictures and frames
e.g.
220zhīmeasure word for music and rods such as pens and guns
e.g.
221zhīmeasure word for birds and certain animals or one of a pair
e.g. , , , , , , , , , 鹿, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
222zhǒngmeasure word for kinds and types
e.g. , , , , , , , 西, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 姿,
223zhóumeasure word for rolls and spools
e.g. 线,
224zhūmeasure word for trees or plants
e.g. , , , , ,
225zhùmeasure word for lottery bets
e.g.
226zhuāngmeasure word for conditions or business transactions
e.g. , , , , , ,
227zhuàngmeasure word for buildings
e.g. , , , ,
228zhuōmeasure word for meals or food
e.g. 西,
229zōngmeasure word for cases or business transactions
e.g. , , , ,
230measure word for groups of things or people
e.g. , , , ,
231zūnmeasure word for cannons and statues
e.g. , , ,
232zuòmeasure word for buildings, mountains, large solid things etc
e.g. , , , , , , , , , 殿, , , , , , , , , , , ,