Basic Noun Classifiers in Chinese
杯/本/个/家
A number or demonstrative normally reaches a Mandarin noun through a classifier. 本 counts bound volumes, 杯 counts cupfuls, 家 counts businesses or households, and 个 is a broad classifier for many people and objects. The classifier follows the number and immediately precedes the noun it classifies.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Number/Demonstrative + Classifier + Noun
Read the structure
A number or demonstrative normally reaches a Mandarin noun through a classifier. 本 counts bound volumes, 杯 counts cupfuls, 家 counts businesses or households, and 个 is a broad classifier for many people and objects. The classifier follows the number and immediately precedes the noun it classifies. Keep the model Number/Demonstrative + Classifier + Noun visible while you compare each sentence.
我买了三本书。
I bought three books.
Choose the right context
Use 本 between a number and a book or other bound volume. Use 杯 for the quantity held in a cup or glass. Use 家 for shops, restaurants, companies, or households.
请给我两杯水。
Please give me two glasses of water.
Respect the boundary
Do not place a bare number directly before a count noun that requires a classifier. Do not put the classifier after the noun it counts. Do not default to 个 when a basic specific classifier such as 本 is required.
我买了三书。
(I bought three books.)
Repair the pattern
Classifier omitted after a number: The count noun 书 requires a classifier after the number; 本 is the standard classifier for books. Classifier placed after its noun: For two servings of water, the quantity phrase is 两+杯+水; moving 杯 after 水 changes the phrase into cups as objects.
我买了三本书。
Use the repaired structure without changing the intended meaning.
02 / MAP
Read the Sentence
Read from left to right and notice the job performed by each part. The labels describe this example; they are not a rule that every Chinese sentence must copy.
我买了三本书。
I bought three books.
我
Number/Demonstrative
This part occupies the Number/Demonstrative position in the model pattern.
买
Classifier
This part occupies the Classifier position in the model pattern.
了
Noun
This part occupies the Noun position in the model pattern.
三本
Number/Demonstrative
This part occupies the Number/Demonstrative position in the model pattern.
书
Classifier
This part occupies the Classifier position in the model pattern.
03 / EXAMPLES
Examples You Can Reuse
Keep the structure stable while changing the people, objects, times, or conditions. Pinyin is shown as reading support; use the Chinese sentence and translation to confirm the grammar relationship.
我买了三本书。
I bought three books.
请给我两杯水。
Please give me two glasses of water.
这家商店很大。
This shop is large.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 本 between a number and a book or other bound volume.
- Use 杯 for the quantity held in a cup or glass.
- Use 家 for shops, restaurants, companies, or households.
Do not use it when
- Do not place a bare number directly before a count noun that requires a classifier.
- Do not put the classifier after the noun it counts.
- Do not default to 个 when a basic specific classifier such as 本 is required.
05 / REPAIR
Compare Right and Wrong
Compare the smallest meaningful change. Each explanation identifies a placement, scope, form, or clause relationship instead of treating the whole sentence as one undifferentiated mistake.
我买了三书。
我买了三本书。
Classifier omitted after a number
The count noun 书 requires a classifier after the number; 本 is the standard classifier for books.
请给我两水杯。
请给我两杯水。
Classifier placed after its noun
For two servings of water, the quantity phrase is 两+杯+水; moving 杯 after 水 changes the phrase into cups as objects.
我买了三书。
The count noun 书 requires a classifier after the number; 本 is the standard classifier for books.
请给我两水杯。
For two servings of water, the quantity phrase is 两+杯+水; moving 杯 after 水 changes the phrase into cups as objects.
06 / PRACTICE
Practice the Grammar Point
Complete three short tasks in order: judge the pattern, repair a common error, and build the sentence. Feedback is fixed and reviewed, so these activities do not use a checker allowance.
1. Judge the sentence
2. Choose the correction
3. Build the sentence
Build a complete sentence with 杯/本/个/家.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 杯/本/个/家. Your draft moves to the checker through this browser session, selects this grammar point as the first review focus, and waits for you to submit.
08 / QUESTIONS
Basic Noun Classifiers Questions
Is 个 acceptable for every noun?
No. It is broad and common, but many nouns conventionally require a more specific classifier.
Why is it 两本 rather than 二本?
两 normally occurs before a classifier in ordinary quantities; 二 is used in counting and compound numbers.
09 / SOURCES
Sources and Review Notes
These references support different parts of the lesson. GF0025-2021 supports level placement only; professional grammar works support the explanation, limits, examples, and cross-checks. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Chinese Proficiency Grading Standards for International Chinese Language Education (GF0025-2021)
Ministry of Education and State Language Commission · Ministry of Education of the PRC · 2021
Locator: GF0025-2021 Appendix A, Level 1 item 【一08】 (PDF p. 177)
Provides official Level 1 directory placement and examples only; it does not establish the learner-facing usage explanation.
Official sourceModern Mandarin Chinese Grammar: A Practical Guide, 3rd ed.
Ross, Ma, Chen, He and Yeh · Routledge · 2024
Locator: Chapter 8, §8.1-§8.3, classifier phrases and common classifiers
Establishes the number or demonstrative plus classifier plus noun order and describes common classifier selection.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
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