measure word for events; venue
HSK level
场 is written with 6 strokes. The animation replays automatically.
场 (chǎng) is most useful to learners as a measure word for whole events that unfold over a span of time — 一场电影 ('a movie'), 一场比赛 ('a match'), 一场雨 ('a rainfall'), 一场病 ('a bout of illness'), 一场梦 ('a dream').
It frames the event as a single complete occurrence. As a noun it also means 'venue / field / arena,' the base of compounds like 机场 ('airport'), 广场 ('square'), and 市场 ('market').
English speakers should note that 场 counts events with duration and scope, distinct from 次 (cì), which counts discrete times/repetitions — 看了三次 ('watched three times') versus 一场电影 ('one showing'). There is a second reading, cháng, meaning a rural threshing floor, but the everyday word is chǎng.
Note: The everyday reading is chǎng (venue; classifier for events). A separate rural reading cháng means 'threshing ground,' which is regional/literary and not what learners need first.
昨天下了一场大雨。
Zuótiān xiàle yì chǎng dàyǔ.
It rained heavily yesterday.
neutral
我们去看一场足球比赛吧。
Wǒmen qù kàn yì chǎng zúqiú bǐsài ba.
Let's go watch a soccer match.
spoken
这场电影差不多两个小时。
Zhè chǎng diànyǐng chàbuduō liǎng gè xiǎoshí.
This movie is about two hours long.
spoken
那场大病让他休息了三个月。
Nà chǎng dàbìng ràng tā xiūxile sān gè yuè.
That serious illness made him rest for three months.
written
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