Measure Words Guide

General measure word for most things

Some / a few (plural)

Polite counter for people

Counter for persons (formal)

Counter for family members / mouths

For small animals and birds

For long, flexible things and fish/snakes

For horses and fabric

For large animals

For books, notebooks, albums

For flat things

For things with handles

For clothing items and matters/affairs

For things in pairs

For wheeled vehicles

For machines and appliances

For sets and suites

For bowl-fulls

For cups and glasses of beverages

For bottles

For chunks/pieces AND money (yuan)

For plants and trees

For flowers and clouds

For small grains and round things

For times / occurrences of an action

For complete runs / readings from start to finish

For performances, events, and matches

For class periods and sections

For trips / journeys (there and back)

For bags and sacks

For boxes / cases (lidded)

For large boxes, crates, cases

For o'clock and a small amount

For floors and layers

For sections, paragraphs, periods