条 (tiáo): Chinese measure word
How to use 条 (tiáo), the Chinese measure word for long, narrow things, news and messages: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
条
tiáo
long, narrow things, news and messages
What it's used for
条 is for long, narrow or winding things: rivers, roads, streets, fish, snakes, trousers, skirts, scarves. It's often used for dogs too (一条狗).
It also counts “items” such as news, messages, rules and suggestions: 一条新闻, 一条短信.
Common nouns with 条
- 一条路 yì tiáo lù road
- 一条马路 yì tiáo mǎ lù street
- 一条船 yì tiáo chuán boat
- 一条带 yì tiáo dài band
- 一条道 yì tiáo dào road
- 一条河 yì tiáo hé river
- 一条街 yì tiáo jiē street
- 一条腿 yì tiáo tuǐ leg
- 一条鱼 yì tiáo yú fish
- 一条办法 yì tiáo bàn fǎ means
- 一条道路 yì tiáo dào lù road
- 一条地铁 yì tiáo dì tiě underground railway
- 一条公路 yì tiáo gōng lù highway
- 一条新闻 yì tiáo xīn wén news
- 一条信息 yì tiáo xìn xī information
- 一条龙 yì tiáo lóng dragon
Example sentences
-
这条河很长。
Zhè tiáo hé hěn cháng.
This river is very long.
-
我收到了一条短信。
Wǒ shōu dào le yì tiáo duǎn xìn.
I received a text message.
-
她买了一条裙子。
Tā mǎi le yì tiáo qún zi.
She bought a skirt.
Common mistake
一个裤子 ✗ → 一条裤子 ✓. Trousers and skirts are 条; shirts and coats are 件.
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