只 (zhī): Chinese measure word
How to use 只 (zhī), the Chinese measure word for animals and one of a pair: example nouns with pinyin, sentences and common mistakes.
Last updated 2026-10-30
只
zhī
animals and one of a pair
What it's used for
只 (zhī) counts most animals, especially small ones: cats, birds, chickens, rabbits. It also counts one item of a pair: 一只手 (one hand), 一只鞋 (one shoe), 一只眼睛 (one eye).
Don't confuse it with the adverb 只 (zhǐ, “only”), written the same way.
Common nouns with 只
- 一只狗 yì zhī gǒu dog
- 一只鸡 yì zhī jī chicken
- 一只猫 yì zhī māo cat
- 一只鸟 yì zhī niǎo bird
- 一只碗 yì zhī wǎn bowl
- 一只眼 yì zhī yǎn eye
- 一只动物 yì zhī dòng wù animal
- 一只眼睛 yì zhī yǎn jing eye
- 一只袜子 yì zhī wà zi socks
- 一只箱子 yì zhī xiāng zi suitcase
- 一只猴 yì zhī hóu monkey
- 一只虎 yì zhī hǔ tiger
- 一只铃 yì zhī líng (small) bell
- 一只大象 yì zhī dà xiàng elephant
- 一只耳朵 yì zhī ěr duo ear
- 一只西红柿 yì zhī xī hóng shì tomato
Example sentences
-
我家有两只猫。
Wǒ jiā yǒu liǎng zhī māo.
We have two cats at home.
-
树上有一只小鸟。
Shù shàng yǒu yì zhī xiǎo niǎo.
There is a little bird in the tree.
-
我找不到另一只袜子。
Wǒ zhǎo bú dào lìng yì zhī wà zi.
I can't find the other sock.
Common mistake
For a pair, use 双: 一双鞋 (a pair of shoes). 一只鞋 is just one shoe.
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