个 (gè): Chinese measure word
How to use 个 (gè), the Chinese measure word for people and most everyday things: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
个
gè
people and most everyday things
What it's used for
个 is the most common, general measure word. It's used for people (一个人), for many objects that have no specific measure word, and for abstract things like ideas, questions and plans (一个问题).
In casual speech 个 often replaces a more specific measure word. In writing and in exams, use the specific one when there is one: 一本书, not 一个书.
Common nouns with 个
- 一个班 yí gè bān class; shift
- 一个包 yí gè bāo bag; package
- 一个国 yí gè guó country
- 一个号 yí gè háo number; size
- 一个家 yí gè jiā family; home
- 一个年 yí gè nián year
- 一个球 yí gè qiú ball
- 一个人 yí gè rén person
- 一个月 yí gè yuè month
- 一个字 yí gè zì character; word
- 一个爱好 yí gè ài hào interest
- 一个爸爸 yí gè bà ba (coll.) father
- 一个白天 yí gè bái tiān daytime
- 一个半天 yí gè bàn tiān half of the day
- 一个包子 yí gè bāo zi bao (steamed stuffed bun)
- 一个杯子 yí gè bēi zi cup
Example sentences
-
我有一个问题。
Wǒ yǒu yí gè wèn tí.
I have a question.
-
他们家有三个孩子。
Tā men jiā yǒu sān gè hái zi.
They have three children.
-
这个周末你有什么计划？
Zhè ge zhōu mò nǐ yǒu shén me jì huà?
What are your plans this weekend?
Common mistake
Using 个 for everything. Many nouns have their own measure word: 一本书 (not 一个书), 一张纸 (not 一个纸).
Compare with
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Our free Grammar Checker flags them, like 一个书 → 一本书, along with other grammar, character and punctuation errors.
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