zhongwen-obsidian/Measure Words.md
2024-05-26 19:01:11 +01:00

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#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.