Chinese Grammar Basic - Expressing Quantity

Introduction

Basic Mandarin starts to click when you can recognise the sentence patterns behind everyday speech. This chapter focuses on expressing quantity, collecting the structures Chinese speakers rely on when they need to handle that idea naturally.

You'll work through patterns from 个 (general measure word) to 什么都/也 (everything/anything), paying attention to how word order, particles, and complements shape natural Chinese.

Themes

All Chinese Grammar Basic in This Chapter (7)

1. 个 (general measure word) gè The measure word 个 (gè) is the most commonly used measure word in Mandarin Chinese. It is placed between a number or demonstrative and a ...
2. 一些 (some) yìxiē The word 一些 (yìxiē) means 'some' or 'a few' and is used before a noun to indicate an indefinite but small quantity. It can also be shorte...
3. 块/元 (counting money) kuài Chinese uses specific monetary measure words to count money. 块 (kuài) is the colloquial term for yuan, the basic unit of Chinese currency...
4. 量词重叠 (measure word reduplication) gè gè Reduplicating a measure word (e.g., 个个, 天天, 次次) expresses the meaning of 'every' or 'each.' This pattern emphasizes that the statement ap...
5. 多 (number in excess) duō Placing 多 (duō) after a number indicates 'more than' or 'over' that number. It expresses an approximate quantity that exceeds the stated ...
6. 几 (several) jǐ The word 几 (jǐ) means 'several' or 'a few' when used in statements, and 'how many' when used in questions. As a quantity word, it always ...
7. 什么都/也 (everything/anything) shénme dōu The pattern 什么 + 都/也 means 'everything' or 'anything' when used in affirmative sentences, and 'nothing' or 'not anything' when combined w...