趟: Counting Trips in Chinese
趟
趟 is a verbal measure word that counts trips or journeys made to and from a place. It normally follows a motion verb and a number, as in 跑两趟 or 去一趟. The order number + 趟 is fixed, and the phrase cannot be placed before the motion verb it measures.
Published July 23, 2026
Reviewed July 23, 2026
01 / PATTERN
See the Structure
MODEL
Motion verb + Number + 趟 (+ Place)
Read the structure
趟 is a verbal measure word that counts trips or journeys made to and from a place. It normally follows a motion verb and a number, as in 跑两趟 or 去一趟. The order number + 趟 is fixed, and the phrase cannot be placed before the motion verb it measures. Keep the model Motion verb + Number + 趟 (+ Place) visible while you compare each sentence.
我下午要去一趟银行。
I need to make a trip to the bank this afternoon.
Choose the right context
Count a trip to a place: 去一趟银行。 Count repeated journeys: 跑了两趟。 Emphasize the occurrence of travel rather than distance.
他今天跑了两趟医院。
He made two trips to the hospital today.
Respect the boundary
Do not use 趟 to classify the destination noun itself. Do not reverse 两趟 to 趟两. Do not move the measure phrase before the motion verb.
我去趟一银行。
(I go trip one bank.)
Repair the pattern
The number follows the measure word: The trip quantity must be number + 趟: 一趟. The aspect marker splits the quantity phrase: 两趟 is an indivisible number-measure phrase; 了 follows 跑 and cannot split it.
我去一趟银行。
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.
我下午要去一趟银行。
I need to make a trip to the bank this afternoon.
我
Motion verb
This part occupies the Motion verb position in the model pattern.
下午
Number
This part occupies the Number position in the model pattern.
要
趟 (
This part occupies the 趟 ( position in the model pattern.
去
Place)
This part occupies the Place) position in the model pattern.
一趟
Motion verb
This part occupies the Motion verb position in the model pattern.
银行
Number
This part occupies the Number 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.
我下午要去一趟银行。
I need to make a trip to the bank this afternoon.
他今天跑了两趟医院。
He made two trips to the hospital today.
为了办手续，她专门来了一趟。
She made a special trip to handle the paperwork.
04 / LIMITS
When to Use It — and When Not To
Use it when
- Count a trip to a place: 去一趟银行。
- Count repeated journeys: 跑了两趟。
- Emphasize the occurrence of travel rather than distance.
Do not use it when
- Do not use 趟 to classify the destination noun itself.
- Do not reverse 两趟 to 趟两.
- Do not move the measure phrase before the motion verb.
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.
我去趟一银行。
我去一趟银行。
The number follows the measure word
The trip quantity must be number + 趟: 一趟.
他跑两了趟医院。
他跑了两趟医院。
The aspect marker splits the quantity phrase
两趟 is an indivisible number-measure phrase; 了 follows 跑 and cannot split it.
我去趟一银行。
The trip quantity must be number + 趟: 一趟.
他跑两了趟医院。
两趟 is an indivisible number-measure phrase; 了 follows 跑 and cannot split it.
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 趟.
07 / APPLY
Apply It in Your Sentence
Write one original sentence with 趟. 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
趟: Counting Trips Questions
Can a destination follow 趟?
Yes. 去一趟银行 and 跑两趟医院 count trips whose destination follows.
How is 趟 different from 次?
趟 specifically profiles a journey or round trip, while 次 is a more general occurrence measure.
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 6 item 【六05】, 动量词：番、声、趟
Supports placement in HSK 6; it does not independently establish the usage explanation.
Official sourceA Reference Grammar of Chinese
Huang, Shi and Li · Cambridge University Press · 2022
Locator: Chapter 7, §§7.3–7.6, event classifiers and measure words
Supports treating 趟 as an event measure following a motion verb and preceding an optional destination.
Official source10 / CONTINUE
Continue with a Connected Rule
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