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Mandarin Chinese Measure Words: Pair and Set with Rachel

1,288 views · Published 24 April 2017 · 4:12 · Indexed 24 October 2026

Channel: eChineseLearning · 2017 · Education

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In Chinese, every noun has its own measure word. The sentence structure is generally as follows: 

numeral + measure word + noun

副 (fù) = pair of accessories worn on the body (for example- glasses, earrings and gloves)

Nǐ xūyào yī fù yǎnjìng.
你需要一副眼镜.
You need a pair of glasses.

Wǒ yǒu yī fù ěrhuán.  
我有一副耳环.
I have a pair of earrings.

副 (fù) can also be used as a measure word for a set of things which are always used together (for example- playing cards, chess sets, knives and forks, bowls and chopsticks).

套 (tào) is a group measure word for a suit or a set of different things that can be arranged in pairs or groups as a collection.

The difference between 套 (tào) and 副 (fù) is that 副 (fù) things are always used together, but 套 (tào) things can be used both together and separately. 

我们需要三套餐具.
Wǒmen xūyào sān tào cānjù.
We need three sets of tableware.

So, now you're ready to begin discussing things in sets and groups in Mandarin Chinese!

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