Mastering Chinese Measure Words for People, Animals, and Plants

In English, we say "a person," "a cat," or "a flower." In Chinese, the measure word (量词 liàngcí) changes depending on the respect level (for people) or the shape (for animals).

For HSK Exam students, using the wrong measure word isn't just a grammar mistake; it changes the tone. Referring to a teacher as "Ge" (informal) instead of "Wei" (polite) sounds rude.

This guide categorizes living things to help you pass the "fill-in-the-blank" sections of HSK 3-6.

Measure Words for People: The Respect Hierarchy

HSK 1-2 Level: The Basics

1. 个 (gè) - The General Unit

   • Usage: Informal, friends, family (sometimes), and general counting.
   • Example: 一个学生 (yí gè xuésheng) - One student.

2. 口 (kǒu) - For Family Members

   • Usage: Strictly used when counting the number of people in a household.
   • Example: 我家有三口人。(Wǒ jiā yǒu sān kǒu rén) - My family has three people.

HSK 3-4 Level: Politeness (Face)

3. 位 (wèi) - The Polite Measure
   • Logic: Used for people deserving respect: teachers, customers, guests, or elders.
   • Example: 这一位是张教授。(Zhè yí wèi shì Zhāng jiàoshòu) - This is Professor Zhang.
   • Common Mistake: Do not use Wei for yourself. Do not say "我是一位老师" (I am an honored teacher). Just use Yi Ge.

HSK 5-6 Level: Statistics

4. 名 (míng) - The Formal/Professional Count
   • Usage: Used in news reports, statistics, or lists of members. It emphasizes the "identity" or role.
   • Example: 报名参加比赛的选手有五百名。(Five hundred members/contestants signed up for the match.)

Measure Words for Animals: Size and Shape

Do you count heads, stripes, or tails?

Small Animals & Birds

1. 只 (zhī) - General Animals
   • Usage: Birds, cats, tigers, sheep, mice. Also used for one of a pair (one hand, one eye).
   • Example: 两只鸟 (liǎng zhī niǎo) - Two birds.

Large Livestock

2. 头 (tóu) - Literally "Head"
   • Usage: Cows, pigs, elephants, oxen. Animals you would traditionally herd.
   • Example: 一头牛 (yì tóu niú) - One cow.
   • Deep Dive: Master the characters for these creatures in our guide on Chinese Characters for Animals.

Long, Flexible Animals

3. 条 (tiáo) - The Strip
   • Usage: Fish, Snakes, Dragons, and worms.
   • Example: 三条鱼 (sān tiáo yú) - Three fish.

Horses (Special Category)

4. 匹 (pǐ) - Bolt (of cloth)
   • Usage: Exclusively for horses (and sometimes camels/wolves).
   • Example: 一匹马 (yì pǐ mǎ) - One horse.

Measure Words for Plants: Roots and Blossoms

Plant terminology relies heavily on radicals.

HSK 3-4 Level

1. 棵 (kē) - Trees (The "Wood" Radical)

   • Usage: Trees, cabbage, grass (upright plants). Note the Wood Radical (木) on the left.
   • Example: 一棵树 (yì kē shù) - A tree.

2. 朵 (duǒ) - Blooms and Clouds

   • Usage: Flowers and Clouds.
   • Example: 一朵红花 (yì duǒ hóng huā) - A red flower.

HSK 5-6 Level

3. 株 (zhū) - Scientific/Technical
   • Usage: Used in formal botany or agriculture ("One strain/plant of...").
   • Example: 一株草药 (yì zhū cǎoyào) - A medicinal herb plant.
   • Resource: Explore the nature roots of the language in Chinese Characters About Farming and Nature.

Grammar Rules: How to Build the Sentence

Remember the golden formula for Chinese counting:

Number + Measure Word + Noun

Important Rule: When saying "Two," use 两 (Liǎng), not 二 (Èr), before a measure word.

• Correct: 两只猫 (Liǎng zhī māo).
• Incorrect: 二只猫 (Èr zhī māo).

For a complete breakdown of foundation rules, revisit our HSK 2 Measure Word Guide.

Application in HSK Exams

Speaking Section (Oral Exam): Examiners look for cultural awareness.

• Prompt: "Describe your family."
• Strategy: Using "我家有四口人" scores higher than "四个."

Writing Section: Using varied measure words prevents repetition. Instead of saying "One person, one flower," try "One honored teacher (位) holding a blossom (朵)."

By categorizing these words into logic groups—Respect for people, Shape for animals, and Type for plants—you will find them much easier to memorize. Start looking for these patterns in your HSK Vocabulary lists today!