Chinese · Measure Words

Pairs, Sets & Groups

Some measure words count things that come in pairs, sets or groups:

双 a pair used together, mostly on the body: shoes, socks, slippers, hands
对 two partners that belong together: a couple (一对夫妻), twins, two stone lions
副 one object made of matching parts, or a set used as one: glasses, sunglasses, a pack of cards, New Year couplets
套 a complete set: a flat, a tea set, a series of books, a set of stamps
群 a crowd, flock or shoal: children, sheep, geese, fish
束 a bunch or beam: flowers, a beam of light

Tip: 一双鞋 is a pair you wear, 一对情侣 is two people who belong together, and 一副眼镜 is one thing built from two halves.

Examples

我买了一运动鞋。Show answer

我买了一双运动鞋。

他戴着一眼镜。Show answer

他戴着一副眼镜。

我送了妈妈一花。Show answer

我送了妈妈一束花。

他们是一很恩爱的夫妻。Show answer

他们是一对很恩爱的夫妻。

公园里有一孩子在踢足球。Show answer

公园里有一群孩子在踢足球。

我们租了一两室一厅的房子。Show answer

我们租了一套两室一厅的房子。

进门请换一拖鞋。Show answer

进门请换一双拖鞋。

夏天出门最好戴一墨镜。Show answer

夏天出门最好戴一副墨镜。

她生了一双胞胎。Show answer

她生了一对双胞胎。

天上飞过一大雁，排成了人字形。Show answer

天上飞过一群大雁，排成了人字形。