Chinese Measure Words (Part 3): Events, Buildings & Structures
- Introduction & Full List
- Part 1: People, Animals, Plants
- Part 2: Size & Shape, Wrapped Items
- Part 3: Events, Buildings & Structures
- Part 4: Foods, Household Items, Clothing
- Part 5: Pairs, Groups, Collections
- Part 6: Speech & Writing, Machines & Vehicles
- Part 7: Time, Units of Measure
Events:
Some measure words in this category describe the duration of time required, while others are specific to the type of event.
| 件 | jiàn | incident | 一件事 (yī jiàn shì) “an incident, a circumstance, a thing” This is also commonly used for articles of clothing. |
|---|---|---|---|
节 (節) | jié | event, episode | 一节课 (yī jié kè) “one class” from a series or a course 节 refers to one episode of a series of continuing events (a course, a TV series, etc.). |
门 (門) | mén | a subject or series of classes | 你在修几门课n (nǐ zài xiū jǐ mén kè) “How many subjects are you taking?” Literally, 门 means “door”. |
| 次 | cì | time, occurrence | 三次 (sān cì) “three times” 第一次世界大战 (dì yī cì shìjiè dàzhàn) “First World War” |
场 (場) | chǎng | large event | 一场大雨 (yī chǎng dàyǔ) “a heavy rain” 一场战争 (yī chǎng zhànzhēng) “a war, a conflict” 一场架 (yī chǎng jià) “a fight” 场 means “field”. As a measure word, it refers to large open-space events, whose cause can be either natural or man-made. |
| 段 | duàn | a period of time | 一段往事 (yī duàn wáng shì) “a past event” 一段情事 (yī duàn qíng shì) “a love affair” |
阵 (陣) | zhèn | sudden, passing event | 一阵雨 (yī zhèn yǔ) “a quick rain shower” 一阵风 (yī zhèn fēng) “a gust of wind” |
| 刻 | kè | a moment | 一刻疯狂 (yīkè fēngkuáng) “a moment of madness” |
| 番 | fān | a long period of time, or an activity that requires significant effort | 一番好气象 (yī fān hǎo qìxiàng) “a stretch of good weather” 下一番努力 (xià yī fān nǔlì) “expend a lot of effort” |
| 席 | xí | banquet | 一席宴会 (yīxí yànhuì) “a banquet” |
| 趟 | tàng | a trip | 一趟旅行 (yī tàng lǚxíng) “a tour” 去一趟日本 (qù yī tàng rìběn) “take a trip to Japan” 白费一趟 (báifèi yī tàng) “a wasted trip” The character’s left side is the symbol for walking. |
Buildings and Structures:
间 (間) | jiān | room, house | 一间屋子 (yī jiān wūzi) “a room” 一间客厅 (yī jiān kètīng) “a guestroom” 一间卧房 (yī jiān wòfáng) “a bedroom” |
|---|---|---|---|
栋 (棟) | dòng | tall building | 一栋大楼 (yī dòng dàlóu) “a tall building” |
层 (層) | céng | floor | 五层大楼 (wǔ céng dàlóu) “a five story building”, literally “five floors of building” |
| 堵 | dǔ | wall | 一堵墙 (yī dǔ qiáng) “a wall” 一堵防火墙 (yī dǔ fánghuǒqiáng) “a firewall” |
| 面 | miàn | wall | 一面墙 (yīmiàn qiáng) “a wall” 面 means “face”, and refers to one side or panel of a wall. |
| 所 | suǒ | multi-building complex | 一所医院 (yī suǒ yīyuàn) “a hospital” 一所大学 (yī suǒ dàxué) “a university” |
场 (場) | chǎng | field, open public space | 一场宴会 (yī chǎng yànhuì) “a party” 一场游戏 (yī chǎng yóuxì) “a game” The character’s left side is the symbol for earth. |
| 家 | jiā | place of work | 一家公司 (yī jiā gōngsī) “a company” 一家银行 (yī jiā yínháng) “a bank” 一家商店 (yī jiā shāngdiàn) “a store” 家 means “home”. The character shows the picture of a pig under a roof. |
| 座 | zuò | large structure | 一座桥 (yī zuò qiáo) “a bridge” 一座水塔 (yīzuò shuǐtǎ) “a water tower” 座 means “a seat”. As a measure word, it refers to the named object’s stable, stationary nature. In addition to man-made structures, it can refer to large, protruding geographical formations: 一座山 (yīzuò shān) “a mountain” 一座岛 (yīzuò dǎo) “an island” |
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