Classifiers proper

Trad. Simp. Pinyin

Cantonese (Yale Romanization)

Main uses

ba2

"Handful" objects that can be held, relatively long and flat objects (knives , scissors , swords /, keys /; also chairs )

bn

bun2

"volume" bound print matter (books /, etc.)

bung6

walls (Cantonese only)

bou6

novels /, movies /, TV dramas etc. ; Cantonese only: machines, vehicles

/ / c

chaak3

volumes of books ( is more common in Traditional Chinese, in Simplified)

cng

chang4

"storey", "layer" buildings /, etc.

chng

cheung4

public spectacles, games /, drama /, film /, etc.

ch

"location", "site" ruins /, construction site

ch

cheut1

acts in a play, "performance" plays /, circus /, etc.

do

dou6

linear projections (light rays , etc.), orders given by an authority figure , courses (of food) /, walls and doors /, questions /, number of times (for certain procedures)

dng

deng2

objects with protruding top (hats , etc.)

dng

dung6

lit. pillars, used for buildings

dou6

walls and encompassing fixtures /

du

do2/deu2

flowers , clouds /

fa1

Military projectiles, such as bullets /, artillery shells /, rockets, guided missiles etc.

fng

fung1

letters , mail, fax /

fuk1

works of art (paintings /, etc.)

ge (g) go3

individual things, people general, catch-all measure word (usage of this classifier in conjunction with any noun is generally accepted if the person does not know the proper classifier)

gn

gan1

thin, slender objects (needles /, pillars , etc.); strands /(e.g. hair /)

ho

people, workmen (); business deals ()[1][2][3][4]

ji

ga3

aircraft /, pianos , machines /

jin

gaan1

rooms , ; Cantonese only: stores, companies

jin

gin6

matters (affairs ), clothing , etc.

ji

gaai3

regularly scheduled sessions or meetings /, year-groups in a school (e.g. Class of 2006) /

jun

guen2

"roll" scrolls - film /, toilet paper /

po1

trees (/) and other such flora

fo2

small objects (hearts , pearls , teeth /, diamonds /, etc.) and also objects appearing to be small (distant stars and planets )

ku

hau2

people in villages , family members; wells ; blade

li

leui6

objects of the same type or category affair , circumstance /

lap1

"grain", small objects such as a grain of rice

ling

leung2

wheeled vehicles: automobiles /, bicycles /, etc.

li

lit6

trains /

ln

round competition /, discussions /

mi

mui4

medals /, small flat things like stamps / or coins /, banana peels, bomb shells /, also for rings

mn

mun4

objects pertaining to academics (courses /, majors /, etc.), also for artillery pieces /.

min

min6

"surface" flat and smooth objects (mirrors /, flags , etc.)

mng

ming4

honorific, or persons with perceived higher social rank (doctors /, lawyers / , politicians, royalty, etc.); in formal language, can also be used for any type of person (not necessarily high-ranking, e.g. mother )

pn

pun4

flat objects (video cassettes /, etc.); literally means "dishes" and can be used for a plate of food

po, po

classifiers for liquids which need preparation (tea , urine )

pat1

horses / and other mounts; also rolls/bolts of cloth

pet6

(Cantonese only) puddle of shapeless mass mud, feces, etc.

pin

pin1

written work: papers /, articles , novels etc.

pin

pin3

"slice" flat objects, cards, slices of bread /, etc.

png

ping4

"bottle" drinks /

case, instance (); batch, group ()[5][6][7][8]

shn

sin3

doors /, windows /.

shu

sau2

songs , poems /, music , etc.

shu

washings/rinsings ()[9][10]

su

sau2

ships

su

so2

for buildings whose purposes are explicitly stated, ex. hospitals /. Otherwise can use ""

ti

toi4

heavy objects, esp. machines (TVs /, computers /, etc.); performances (theatre /, etc.)

tng

tong4

periods of classes / (e.g. "I have two classes today"), suites of furniture

tng

tong3

trips (usually repetitive), scheduled transportation services flights /

tai4

classifier for questions

tio

tiu4

long, narrow, flexible objects (fish /, dogs , trousers /, etc.), also for roads and rivers , pertaining to human lives, e.g. "" two (human) lives, " ", lit. "one heart" (to work as one), classifiers for certain things like countermeasures, etc.

tu

tau4

"head" domesticated animals (pigs /, cows , etc.), hair

tun

tyun4

"ball" rotund and wound objects (balls of yarn /, etc.)

tu

"lump" mud , feces

wi

"tail" fish / (ancient)

wi

wai2

polite classifier for people (attached to positions, not names) workers , director

xing

hong6

items, projects initiative /, ordinances , statements /

xi

nights, overnight stays ()[11][12][13]

yng

yeung6

general items of differing attributes

jam6

(Cantonese only) odor

sections of text notice , jokes /, news /, etc.

zhn

jaan2

light fixtures (usually lamps /), pot of tea etc.

zhng

jeung1

"sheet" flat objects (paper /, tables , etc.), faces /, bows, paintings / , tickets , constellations, blankets, bedsheets /; Cantonese only: chairs

zh

ji1

fairly long, stick-like objects (pens /, chopsticks, roses, rifles /, etc.), fleets /

zh

ji1

alternative form of ("stalk"): can be used for rifles / and flowers

zhng

jung2

types or kinds of objects (animals /)

zh

trees

zh

incense

zh

a pour of water, tea (liquid)

zn

statues

zu

jo6

large structures/buildings /, mountains

Measure words/massifiers
Cantonese (Yale Romanization)

Trad. Simp. Pinyin

Main uses

bn

baan1

scheduled services (trains /, etc.), group of people , a class as in pupils /

bng

"group", "gang" (bandits , children )

bo

baau1

"package", "bundle" (cookies /, cigarettes /)

bi

bui1

"cup" liquids (water )

bi

"generation", "lifetime" (people )

bat1

large quantities of money (money /, funds /)

chun

sets of numbers; or something that comes in a string (e.g./: "a string of numbers"; /: "pearl necklace"; : "a bunch of grapes"), objects on a skewer/stick (kebabs, satays)

chung chong4

"bed" blankets , sheets

chi3

"time" opportunities /, accidents

di

doi6

"bag" sackfuls, pouchfuls, bagfuls, pocketfuls flour /

do

dou6

linear projections (light rays , etc.), orders given by an authority figure , courses (of food) /, walls and doors /, questions /, number of times (for certain procedures)

dik6

"droplet" water , blood /, other such fluids

din

dim2

ideas /, suggestions, can also mean "a bit" (often used to denote amount) courage /

dun

dyun6

"adjoining length" cables /, roadways , a part in a drama, play etc. /

du

deui3

"pile", "mass" trash , sand

du

deui3

"couple" people , "pair" (for certain things only) earrings /, couplets; Cantonese only: pair of objects which naturally come in pairs (e.g. chopsticks , shoes , etc.)

dn

deun6

meals /

fn

fan6

portions, copies newspapers /, notarized document /, contract

fuk6

"dose" (Chinese) medicine

fu3

objects which come in pairs (gloves , etc.) also for spectacles/glasses /, a pack of cards , mahjong /

gu2

flows (of air /, smell , influence )....

gau6

(Cantonese only) "piece of", "chunk of" rock, soap, ginger, charcoal, rice, etc.

gun

"tube" toothpaste and things that comes in tubes toothpaste

gun

Small to medium cans of soda, of juice, bottles of water, cans of food...

hng

hong4

"row" objects which form lines (words /, etc.). is also read xng, see below.

hap6

"small box" e.g. tape, foods

wu6

households ( is common in handwritten Traditional Chinese) household

pot tea

hu

fo2

generally derogatory classifier for bands of people such as gangs or hoodlums ()

dose (medicine /)

ji

ga1

gathering of people (families , companies , etc.), establishments (shops , restaurants , hotels /)

jin

gin6

matters (affairs ), clothing , etc.

ji

jit3

"section" of bamboo , etc.; a class period at school /; batteries (that look like a section of bamboo): ""

geui3

lines, sentences, etc. sentence /, English /

kui

faai3

"chunk", "lump", "piece" land , stones /, etc.; cake (piece/slice), bread (not slices) /, "dollar" /

li

sometimes used informally instead of (ling ge), to mean "two" (especially two things or people that are close to one another)

(strand/slither of) hair, smoke /, wind /

pi

paai4

"row" objects grouped in rows (chairs , etc.)

pai1

(a large amount of) people , goods , etc.

kei4

(issues of) periodicals /

qn

kwan4

"group" (incl. people ), "herd" students /, birds /

sometimes used informally instead of to mean "three", "three of"

sh

chuk1

"bundle", for flowers , light, etc.

shung seung1

pair of objects which naturally come in pairs (e.g. chopsticks , shoes , etc.)

to

tou3

"set" books /, magazines, collectibles, clothes , etc.

wn

wun2

"bowl" soup /, rice /, congee

xi

"some" general massifier. Only used in the form .

xng

groups of people traveling together, such as a trade commission or diplomats and aides visiting a foreign country: "" (having left Paris, the king and retinue were enthused). Note: almost only used in the form . is also read hng, see above.

number of revolutions, times to go around

In Cantonese usage, this is used in lieu of sh (), e.g. a bundle of flowers zh ja1 "jar", "jug" drinks such as beer, soda, juice, etc. (A recent loan-word from English, it may be considered informal or slang.)

zhn

jan6

"gust", "burst" events with short durations (e.g. lightning storms, gusts of wind /, etc.)

zh

jek3

one of a pair (hands , legs); animals (birds , cats /, etc.)

zh

"bet" lottery

jou2

sets, rows, series, group of people , batteries / (military)

[edit]Measurement

units

Further information: Chinese units of measurement

Trad.

Simp.

Pinyin

Cantonese

Main uses

Time

mio

miu5

"second"

fn

fan1

"minute"

hak1 haak1

"quarter","15 minutes" (mainly in some dialects, such as Shanghainese, and translations)

tin

tin1

"day"

yat6

"day"

nin

nin4

"year"

zi

joi2 joi3

"year" (ancient)

Weight/mass

hak1 haak1

"gram"

ling

50 grams(1/10 jn), used to be 1/16 jn

jiln

gallon

jn

gan1

"catty", "pound", 1/2 kilograms

gngjn

gung1 gan1

"metric jn", kilogram

qink

chin1 hak1/haak1

"kilogram"

dn

deun1

"ton"

Length/distance

gngfn

gung1 fan1

"metric fn",centimetre

lm

lei4 mai5

"centimetre" (More common in Mainland China and Hong Kong)

cn

chyun3

Chinese "inch" ( of a decimetre)

cn

chyun3

British inch

ch

che2/chek3

Chinese "foot" ( of a metre)

ch

chek3

British foot

yngch

ying1 chek3

British foot

gngch

gung1 chek3

"metric ch", metre

mai5

"metre"

lei5

"l", (500 metres)

le1/lei5/li1

British mile

yngl

ying1 lei5

British mile

gngl

gung1 lei5

"kilometre" (1000 metres)

tinwndnwi

tin1 man4 daan1 wai2

"astronomical unit"

gungnin

gwong1 nin4

"light year"

miochj

miu5 cha1 geui6

"parsec"

Money

yun

yun4

"yun", "" (main unit of currency) (either form can be used in Traditional Chinese text)

kui

faai3

"block", yun (a slang term, like "quid" or "buck")

wn

man1

"dollar" (slang in HK Cantonese)

jio

gok3

"jio", "dime", "tenpence"

mo

hou4

"mo", "dime", "tenpence" (slang)

fn

fan1/fan6

"fn", "cent", "penny"

Verbal classifiers
Trad. Simp. Pinyin Cantonese Main uses

bin

bin3 pin3

the number of times an action has been completed

chng cheung4

a length of an event taking place within another event

chi3

times (unlike , refers to the number of times regardless of whether or not it was completed)

dn

deun6

actions without repetition

hu

wui4

occurrences (used colloquially)

shng seng1/sing1 cries, shouts, etc.

tng

tong3

trips, visitations, etc.

xi

ha5/ha6

brief and often sudden actions (much more common inCantonese than in North dialects).