根 (gēn): Chinese measure word
How to use 根 (gēn), the Chinese measure word for thin, stick-like things: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
根
gēn
thin, stick-like things
What it's used for
根 counts thin, stick-like things: sticks, bananas, hairs, needles, ropes, cigarettes.
Common nouns with 根
- 一根头发 yì gēn tóu fa hair (on the head)
- 一根香 yì gēn xiāng incense stick
- 一根烟 yì gēn yān cigarette or pipe tobacco
- 一根刺 yì gēn cī thorn
- 一根针 yì gēn zhēn needle
- 一根骨头 yì gēn gǔ tou bone
- 一根火柴 yì gēn huǒ chái match (for lighting fire)
- 一根香肠 yì gēn xiāng cháng sausage
- 一根血管 yì gēn xuè guǎn vein
- 一根柱子 yì gēn zhù zi pillar
- 一根弦 yì gēn xián bow string
- 一根辫子 yì gēn biàn zi plait
- 一根车轴 yì gēn chē zhóu axle
- 一根电线 yì gēn diàn xiàn wire
- 一根管子 yì gēn guǎn zi tube
- 一根蜡烛 yì gēn là zhú candle
Example sentences
-
给我一根香蕉。
Gěi wǒ yì gēn xiāng jiāo.
Give me a banana.
-
他头上有几根白头发。
Tā tóu shàng yǒu jǐ gēn bái tóu fa.
He has a few white hairs.
-
地上有一根木棍。
Dì shàng yǒu yì gēn mù gùn.
There's a stick on the ground.
Common mistake
Long things that bend or flow, like rivers, roads and trousers, take 条; stiff, thin things take 根.
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