Measure words

Hanzi Tools · Learning guide · Updated 6 November 2026

A number or demonstrative before a noun often needs a measure word. 个 is common, but books, sheets and some other nouns prefer other measure words.

Compare the examples

一本书

one book

一张纸

one sheet of paper

三个人

three people

Try it yourself

Complete: 一__书

1. 本
2. 张
3. 条

Practise in context

Write a sentence about something that happened to you, using this pattern. Keep the first version short so you can check the word order. Then change one part, such as the time, person or object, and compare what the new sentence means.

Use the grammar exercises for another comparison. You can paste your example into the Chinese reader to check words and pinyin. An automatic reading is a reference; it cannot settle every question of meaning or naturalness.