场

• Pinyin: chǎng
• Hanzi breakdown: 场 = 土 (earth, left) + phonetic component (right); simplified from 場, originally meaning open ground

Meaning

A measure word used for events, games, performances, and natural occurrences like rain or wind.

Used to count events with a defined duration, such as games, shows, exams, rain showers, and dreams. Distinct from its other meaning as 'venue' or 'field' — as a measure word it counts discrete events.

Examples

1. 昨天我看了一场电影。 Yesterday I watched a movie.
2. 下午有一场足球比赛。 There's a football match in the afternoon.
3. 昨晚下了一场大雨。 There was a heavy rain last night.

Usage Guide

Context: counting events, sports, entertainment, weather

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们看了一场很好的演出。(We watched a wonderful show.)
• 明天有一场考试。(There's an exam tomorrow.)

Don't Say

• Do not use 场 for counting places or locations — as a measure word, 场 counts events, not venues. For counting places, use 个 or another appropriate measure word.

Origin & History

Originally meant 'open ground' or 'threshing floor.' Extended to count events that take place in a space, then generalised to any bounded event.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal