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HSK 1

个

general measure word

measure wordneutral
个
gè4th tone

HSK level

1
2
3
4
5
6
Pinyin
gè
Part of speech
measure word
Level
HSK 1
Strokes
3
Register
neutral

Stroke order for 个

个 is written with 3 strokes. The animation replays automatically.

What does 个 mean?

个 (gè) is the most common measure word in Chinese — the one you use between a number/demonstrative and a noun when no more specific measure word fits.

三个人 'three people,' 这个 'this one,' 那个苹果 'that apple.' Mandarin requires a measure word between a number and a noun (you can't say 三人 in modern speech the way you can say 'three people' in English), and 个 is the default.

Two things to know: first, 个 is often pronounced in the neutral tone (ge) in fast speech even though its citation tone is fourth (gè); second, 个 is the universal fallback, but every noun has a 'correct' measure word — 一只猫 'one cat,' 一本书 'one book,' 一杯水 'one cup of water.' Using 一个猫 is comprehensible but marks you as a beginner.

Note: 个 is the safest fallback, but in formal writing or careful speech, learners should use the specific measure word: 一本书 (book), 一只猫 (cat), 一辆车 (car). Over-using 个 sounds lazy in writing.

Example sentences

我有一个哥哥。

Wǒ yǒu yī gè gēge.

I have one older brother.

neutral

这个多少钱？

Zhège duōshǎo qián?

How much is this one?

spoken

请给我那个。

Qǐng gěi wǒ nàge.

Please give me that one.

polite

他有三个孩子。

Tā yǒu sān gè háizi.

He has three children.

neutral

Common phrases with 个

一个yī gèone (of something)
这个zhègethis one; this
那个nàgethat one; that
哪个nǎgewhich one
几个jǐ gèa few; how many

Synonyms

位wèi

位 is the polite measure word for people — used for guests, customers, teachers, or anyone you want to show respect to. 三位老师 'three teachers (respectfully).' 三个老师 is neutral. Don't use 位 for yourself or family.

只zhī

只 is the measure word for most animals (一只猫, 一只狗), one of a pair (一只鞋 'one shoe'), and small objects. Learners using 一个猫 will be understood but corrected.

Don't confuse 个 with

各gè

各 (same pinyin, different character) means 'each/every' (各国 'each country,' 各位 'everyone'). 个 is a counter; 各 is a distributive — they shouldn't be mixed.

些xiē

些 means 'some / a few' and replaces a measure word: 这些书 'these books,' not 这些个书. Use 个 for one item, 些 for an indefinite plural.

FAQ

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