Specialized Noun Classifiers 册, 朵, 幅, 届, 颗, 匹, and 扇 in Chinese
册 / 朵 / 幅 / 届 / 颗 / 匹 / 扇
These classifiers identify conventional units: 册 for bound volumes, 朵 for flowers or cloud-like forms, 幅 for pictures or cloth surfaces, 届 for sessions or cohorts, 颗 for small round objects, 匹 for horses or bolts of cloth, and 扇 for doors, windows, or screens. Put each before its noun.
Published July 26, 2026
Reviewed July 26, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Number or demonstrative + specialized classifier + noun
Read the structure
These classifiers identify conventional units: 册 for bound volumes, 朵 for flowers or cloud-like forms, 幅 for pictures or cloth surfaces, 届 for sessions or cohorts, 颗 for small round objects, 匹 for horses or bolts of cloth, and 扇 for doors, windows, or screens. Put each before its noun. Keep the model Number or demonstrative + specialized classifier + noun visible while you compare each sentence.
桌上放着三册词典。
Three dictionary volumes are on the table.
Choose the right context
Use 册 with volumes, 幅 with flat displayed works, and 届 with recurring sessions or cohorts. Use 朵 for flowers and similar clustered forms and 颗 for small round items. Use 匹 for horses or bolts of cloth and 扇 for door, window, or screen panels.
墙上挂着两幅画。
Two paintings hang on the wall.
Respect the boundary
Do not select a classifier only from the English noun. Do not place the classifier after the noun inside a standard quantity phrase. Do not assume similarly pronounced 棵 and 颗 classify the same nouns.
门口有两颗树。
(There are two trees at the entrance.)
Repair the pattern
颗 is used for a whole plant instead of a small round item: A whole rooted tree takes 棵. 颗 counts small round or granular objects such as stars, teeth, or seeds. 个 replaces the conventional classifier for a painting: A displayed painting conventionally takes 幅, which identifies a flat pictorial work.
门口有两棵树。
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.
桌上放着三册词典。
Three dictionary volumes are on the table.
桌上
Number or demonstrative
This part occupies the Number or demonstrative position in the model pattern.
放
specialized classifier
This part occupies the specialized classifier position in the model pattern.
着
noun
This part occupies the noun position in the model pattern.
三
Number or demonstrative
This part occupies the Number or demonstrative position in the model pattern.
册
specialized classifier
This part occupies the specialized classifier position in the model pattern.
词典
noun
This part occupies the noun 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.
桌上放着三册词典。
Three dictionary volumes are on the table.
墙上挂着两幅画。
Two paintings hang on the wall.
她参加了上一届比赛。
She participated in the previous edition of the competition.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Use 册 with volumes, 幅 with flat displayed works, and 届 with recurring sessions or cohorts.
- Use 朵 for flowers and similar clustered forms and 颗 for small round items.
- Use 匹 for horses or bolts of cloth and 扇 for door, window, or screen panels.
Do not use it when
- Do not select a classifier only from the English noun.
- Do not place the classifier after the noun inside a standard quantity phrase.
- Do not assume similarly pronounced 棵 and 颗 classify the same nouns.
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.
门口有两颗树。
门口有两棵树。
颗 is used for a whole plant instead of a small round item
A whole rooted tree takes 棵. 颗 counts small round or granular objects such as stars, teeth, or seeds.
墙上挂着两个画。
墙上挂着两幅画。
个 replaces the conventional classifier for a painting
A displayed painting conventionally takes 幅, which identifies a flat pictorial work.
门口有两颗树。
Use 棵 for whole rooted plants.
墙上挂着两个画。
Use 幅 for a painting.
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 册 / 朵 / 幅 / 届 / 颗 / 匹 / 扇.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 册 / 朵 / 幅 / 届 / 颗 / 匹 / 扇. 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
Specialized Noun Classifiers 册, 朵, 幅, 届, 颗, 匹, and 扇 Questions
What is the difference between 棵 and 颗?
Both are pronounced kē, but 棵 counts rooted plants, while 颗 counts small round or granular objects. Their written forms and noun pairings differ.
Can 匹 count both horses and cloth?
Yes. 匹 is conventional with horses and with bolts or lengths of cloth. The following noun determines which unit is intended.
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: Appendix A, Level 5 item 【五02】, 名量词：册、朵、幅、届、颗、匹、扇, PDF p. 222
Lists the seven official Level 5 noun classifiers and establishes the curriculum boundary.
Official sourceLearning Chinese: A Foundation Course in Mandarin, Unit 8
Julian K. Wheatley · MIT OpenCourseWare · 2011
Locator: Unit 8, §8.13 M-words, printed pp. 46–54; full PDF body opened
Explains semantic classifier selection and directly lists specialized items including 朵 and 匹.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 7, Classifiers, summary body opened
Explains classifier categories and how sortal classifier choice reflects noun properties rather than free substitution.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
Compare
个Chinese Measure Words
Review the general classifier slot before learning the lexical noun pairings of 册, 朵, 幅, 届, 颗, 匹, and 扇.
Compare
借用量词Borrowed Noun and Event Classifiers
These conventional classifiers differ from ordinary nouns temporarily borrowed to measure containers or portions.
Continue learning
量词重叠Reduplicated Classifiers for Every Member
After selecting an appropriate classifier, compare ordinary counting with distributive classifier reduplication.
Continue learning
多项定语Ordering Multiple Noun Modifiers
Keep the specialized quantity phrase intact and before descriptive modifiers and the final head noun.
RECOMMENDED NEXT
Compare
Review the general classifier slot before learning the lexical noun pairings of 册, 朵, 幅, 届, 颗, 匹, and 扇.