Introduction
Chinese never puts a number straight in front of a noun. Something has to stand between them — a measure word — and 个 (ge) is the one that fits the widest range of things. When you cannot remember the right measure word, 个 is the safe guess.
Overview
Structure: Number + 个 (ge) + Noun
| Pattern | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Number + 个 + N | 三个人 (sān ge rén) | three people |
| 一 + 个 + N | 一个苹果 (yí ge píngguǒ) | one apple |
| 两 + 个 + N | 两个孩子 (liǎng ge háizi) | two children |
| 这 / 那 + 个 + N | 这个问题 (zhège wèntí) | this question |
| 几 + 个 + N | 几个人 (jǐ ge rén) | how many people |
两 (liǎng) counts things; 二 (èr) is the digit:
- ✓ 两个人 (liǎng ge rén) — two people ❌ 二个人 (èr ge rén)
- 二 (èr) belongs to numbers read out loud: 十二 (shí'èr) twelve，二〇二六 (èr líng èr liù) 2026.
- In front of a measure word, "two" is always 两 (liǎng).
- From twelve upwards the digit comes back: 十二个人 (shí'èr ge rén) — twelve people.
Examples
我有一个哥哥。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge gēge.
I have an older brother.
他们家有三个人。
Tāmen jiā yǒu sān ge rén.
There are three people in their family.
我买了两个苹果。
Wǒ mǎi le liǎng ge píngguǒ.
I bought two apples.
这个问题很难。
Zhège wèntí hěn nán.
This question is difficult.
我想问你一个问题。
Wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ yí ge wèntí.
I'd like to ask you a question.
一个星期有七天。
Yí ge xīngqī yǒu qī tiān.
There are seven days in a week.
Usage Notes
- A number can never touch the noun: ❌ 三人 (sān rén). The measure word is compulsory — 三个人 (sān ge rén).
- 个 (ge) is read in neutral tone in ordinary speech: sān ge rén, not sān gè rén.
- 一 (yī) shifts tone in front of it because 个 is underlyingly 4th tone: 一个 is yí ge.
- Many nouns prefer their own measure word — 本 (běn) for books, 口 (kǒu) for family members, 块 (kuài) for money — but 个 (ge) will always be understood.
- 这 (zhè)、那 (nà) and 哪 (nǎ) need a measure word too: 这个 (zhège)、那个 (nàge)、哪个 (nǎge).