棵 (kē): Chinese measure word
How to use 棵 (kē), the Chinese measure word for trees and plants: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
棵
kē
trees and plants
What it's used for
棵 (kē) counts trees and plants, including vegetables that grow as a whole plant, like cabbages: 一棵白菜.
Common nouns with 棵
- 一棵树 yì kē shù tree
- 一棵草 yì kē cǎo grass
- 一棵白菜 yì kē bái cài Chinese cabbage
- 一棵松 yì kē sōng pine
- 一棵松树 yì kē sōng shù pine
- 一棵竹子 yì kē zhú zi bamboo
- 一棵果树 yì kē guǒ shù fruit tree
- 一棵禾苗 yì kē hé miáo seedling (of rice or other grain)
- 一棵核桃 yì kē hé tao walnut
- 一棵玫瑰 yì kē méi guī rugosa rose (shrub) (Rosa rugosa)
Example sentences
-
院子里有一棵大树。
Yuàn zi lǐ yǒu yì kē dà shù.
There's a big tree in the yard.
-
我买了一棵白菜。
Wǒ mǎi le yì kē bái cài.
I bought a Chinese cabbage.
-
路边种着很多棵树。
Lù biān zhòng zhe hěn duō kē shù.
Many trees are planted along the road.
Common mistake
Don't confuse it with 颗 (also <em>kē</em>), which counts small round things.
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