Definitions

(classifier) general classifier for people and objects
(noun) individual; piece

Etymology

Pictograph of one stalk of bamboo. Same as one half of the character for bamboo ().

About

The simplified character originated as a pictograph of a single bamboo stalk, one half of (bamboo), and first served as a measure word for bamboo stems. The traditional form combines the person radical with the phonetic (gù). Today, is the most common generic classifier, placed between a numeral or demonstrative and a noun to count individual units, often substituting for more specific measure words in colloquial speech. It also acts as a structural particle in some verb-complement phrases.

Example Sentences Hide

我有一苹果。

Wǒ yǒu yī gè píngguǒ.

I have an apple.

他买了三面包。

Tā mǎi le sān gè miànbāo.

He bought three pieces of bread.

人很友好。

Zhège rén hěn yǒuhǎo.

This person is very friendly.

城市都很安静。

Zhěng gè chéngshì dōu hěn ānjìng.

The whole city is very quiet.

请你给我一机会。

Qǐng nǐ gěi wǒ yī gè jīhuì.

Please give me a chance.

问题有点难。

Nàgè wèntí yǒudiǎn nán.

That problem is a bit difficult.

我每月都去图书馆。

Wǒ měi gè yuè dōu qù túshūguǎn.

I go to the library every month.

他一人完成了所有工作。

Tā yī gè rén wánchéng le suǒyǒu gōngzuò.

He completed all the work by himself.