Verb + Measure Word (verbal measure)

• 拼音: cì
• 结构: Verb + Number + Measure Word (+ Object)
• 汉字拆解: 次 = 冫(ice) + 欠 (lack); 遍 = 辶 (walk) + 扁 (flat)

含义

Use verbal measure words after a verb to count how many times or in what manner an action is performed. Common verbal measure words include 次 (times), 遍 (times, from start to finish), 下 (quick action), and 趟 (trips).

Verbal measure words quantify the frequency or manner of an action, placed after the verb and before the object if there is one. The most common verbal measure words are: 次 (cì) for general frequency, 遍 (biàn) for actions done from beginning to end, 下 (xià) for brief or casual actions, and 趟 (tàng) for round trips or journeys. Each has a distinct nuance — 看一次 means 'look once,' 看一遍 means 'read or watch through once from start to finish,' and 看一下 means 'take a quick look.' When the verb has an object, the measure word phrase typically goes between the verb and the object, as in 去了两趟超市. This is different from noun measure words, which appear between a number and a noun.

例句

1. 这首歌我听了好几遍。
2. 请你再说一遍。
3. 他去了三趟医院才把药拿到。

用法指南

语境: spoken, written, everyday

语气: descriptive

正确说法

• 这个电影我看了两遍。
• 老师让我们读三次课文。
• 你试一下这道菜，味道不错。
• 我每个月回老家一趟。

错误说法

• 我去两趟了北京。(了 should follow the verb directly, not after the measure phrase — say 我去了两趟北京) → 我去了两趟北京。
• 请你一遍再说。(The verbal measure phrase comes after the verb, not before — say 请你再说一遍) → 请你再说一遍。

起源与历史

Verbal measure words evolved from content words in classical Chinese. For example, 遍 originally meant 'everywhere' or 'all around,' reflecting the idea of covering something completely from start to finish, which led to its modern use as a measure word for complete iterations of an action.

文化背景

世代: All ages

社会背景: Universal