Level 1 Lesson 13.1 – One Table; Two Chairs

Grammar 1: Measure Words in Chinese (IV) · HSK 1

We've learned the usage of Measure Words in Chinese with two structures:

• Number + Measure Word + Noun (Phrase) - Beginner Chinese Course Lesson 16.
• Pronoun 这/那/哪 + Measure Word + Noun (Phrase) - Basic Course Lesson 17 and Lesson 18.

There are more than just a few Measure Words in Chinese. The two we're going to discuss today Measure Word 张 zhāng and Measure Word 把 bǎ, can sometimes also be used as verbs.

张 zhāng can also mean "to spread". 把 bǎ can also mean "to grab". Their meaning as verbs help form their usage as Measure Words.

Grammar 2: Measure Word 张 · HSK 1

Measure Word 张 zhāngs can be used for things that have a flat surface such as table, desk and bed.

• yì zhāng zhuōzi 一张桌子 a "zhang" (of) table
• yì zhāng chuáng 一张床  a "zhang" (of) bed
• yì zhāng yǐzi 一张椅子  a "zhang" (of) chair

Grammar 3: Measure Word 把 · HSK 1

Measure Word 把 bǎ can be used for things that have a handle or a handle-like part that's easy to grab.

• yì bǎ yǐzi 一把椅子 ^① a "ba" (of) chair
• yì bǎ dāo 一把刀 a "ba" (of) knife

NOTES: ① 椅子 can be used with both Measure Word 张 and 把, because 椅子 usually has a flat surface and for chairs that are easy to grab, 把 is also okay to use.

Grammar 4: Suffix 子 in Chinese · HSK 1

Suffix 子 in Chinese is a very common and useful building element of Chinese words. Words with Suffix 子 are most likely nouns.

We mentioned that 2-syllable words are pervasive in Chinese.

Even though 子 does not really mean anything, it comes quite handy to build 2-syllable words.

For example in the following words, the character in front of 子 already contains the meaning of the word and 子 mostly function as: (1) to make the word 2-syllable (2) to make the word a noun.

• zhuōzi 桌子 table; desk
• yǐzi 椅子 chair
• fángzi 房子 house; apartment
• yèzi 叶子 leaf
• yǐngzi 影子 shadow
• běnzi 本子 notebook