Measure Word 个 [gè] in Chinese

Measure word 个 [gè] in Chinese

In Chinese, when a number is used with a noun, a measure word must be placed between the number and the noun. It contrasts with English where nouns can be divided into countable and uncountable, the former being used directly with numbers and the latter requiring a measure phrase after the number. For example, two students (countable) and the two loaves of bread (uncountable). Chinese nouns on the other hand all take measure words:
两个学生 [liǎng gè xuéshēng] Two students
两个面包 [liǎng gè miànbāo] Two loaves of bread

Note: Measure words are sometimes also called classifiers.
And the measure word 个 (gè) is also can be used with almost all nouns, including abstract nouns.

Examples:

• 一个人 [yī gè rén] One/a person
• 十个人 [shí gè rén] Ten people
• 一个印象 [yī gè yìnxiàng] An impression
• 每个旅客 [měi gè lǚkè] Every passenger
• 两个手表 [liǎng gè shǒubiǎo] Two watches
• 三个姐姐 [sān gè jiějiě] Three sisters
• 四十个字 [sìshí gè zì] Forty characters
• 八个月 [bā gè yuè] Eight months
• 一个花园 [yī gè huāyuán] One/a garden