zhongwen-obsidian/Measure Words.md

#measure #demonstrative

A measure word is required between a numeral and a noun. It's also required when a demonstrative is used before a noun:

demonstrative + measure + noun

1. 这本书 zhè běn shū this book
2. 那张票 nà zhāng piào that ticket
3. 哪条裙子 nǎ tiáo qúnzi which skirt

In the case where a noun is modified by both a demonstrative and a numeral, the former comes before the latter, followed by the measure:

demonstrative + numeral + measure + noun

1. 这五个朋友 zhè wǔge péngyou these five friends
2. 那十二件衬衫 nà shí'èrjiàn chènshān those twelve shirts
3. 哪四张地图 nǎ sìzhāng dìtú which four maps

The combination of the demonstrative and/or numeral combined with the measure word forms one structural unit, modifying the following head noun. In speech, people often leave a small pause before the modifying unit and the head noun. The head noun can even be omitted if it is easily inferred, for example when answering some quantifying questions.