Introduction
一些 (yìxiē) means "some" or "a few". It takes the slot a number and a measure word would take — and it is already both of those things, so nothing else may come between it and the noun: 一些朋友 (yìxiē péngyou) — some friends.
Overview
Structure: 一些 (yìxiē) + Noun
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 一些 + N | 一些朋友 (yìxiē péngyou) | some friends |
| V + 一些 + N | 买一些水果 (mǎi yìxiē shuǐguǒ) | buy some fruit |
| 有 + 一些 + N | 我有一些问题。(Wǒ yǒu yìxiē wèntí.) | I have some questions. |
| 这些 / 那些 | 这些书 (zhèxiē shū) | these books |
| Adj + 一些 | 便宜一些 (piányi yìxiē) | a bit cheaper |
一些 (yìxiē) counts things; 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr) measures amounts:
- 一些朋友 (yìxiē péngyou) — some friends. Things you could count one by one.
- 一点儿水 (yìdiǎnr shuǐ) — a little water. Something you cannot count.
- Never add a measure word: ❌ 一些个朋友 (yìxiē ge péngyou). 一些 already contains one.
- 些 (xiē) also attaches to 这 (zhè) and 那 (nà): 这些 (zhèxiē) these，那些 (nàxiē) those.
Examples
我有一些朋友在北京。
Wǒ yǒu yìxiē péngyou zài Běijīng.
I have some friends in Beijing.
你可以吃一些水果。
Nǐ kěyǐ chī yìxiē shuǐguǒ.
You can have some fruit.
他买了一些书。
Tā mǎi le yìxiē shū.
He bought some books.
我有一些问题想问你。
Wǒ yǒu yìxiē wèntí xiǎng wèn nǐ.
I have some questions I'd like to ask you.
这些菜都很好吃。
Zhèxiē cài dōu hěn hǎochī.
All these dishes are delicious.
我想买一些东西。
Wǒ xiǎng mǎi yìxiē dōngxi.
I want to buy a few things.
Usage Notes
- 一些 (yìxiē) already includes the measure word, so ❌ 一些个 (yìxiē ge) and ❌ 一些本 (yìxiē běn) are both wrong.
- 一 (yī) becomes yì in front of 些 (xiē), which is 1st tone — the phrase is yìxiē.
- In speech the 一 often disappears altogether: 我有些问题。(Wǒ yǒu xiē wèntí.) Both forms are correct.
- 这些 (zhèxiē) and 那些 (nàxiē) are the plurals of 这个 (zhège) and 那个 (nàge), and they take no measure word either.
- After an adjective, 一些 (yìxiē) does the same job as 一点儿 (yìdiǎnr): 便宜一些 (piányi yìxiē) — a bit cheaper.