Measure words are one of the more annoying aspects of Chinese, but they are an interesting part of the language. If they all become too confusing for you ‘个’ (ge) can be used as a general measure word and although incorrect is still understood.
我有一个苹果。 (Wǒ yǒu yīgè píngguǒ) I have an apple.
她有两只小猫。 (Tā yǒu liǎng zhī xiǎo māo.) She has two small dogs. (When using measure words the word for two changes, 两 liǎng is used instead of the usual 二 èr)
你要一群牛。 (Nǐ yào yī qún niú ) You want a herd of cows (群 qún means herd, and when used as a measure word and placed in front of some animals, it becomes the group word)
它有一个八十的人口。(Tā yǒu yīgè bāshí de rénkǒu.)It has a population of eighty.
他们有三碗饭 (Tāmen yǒusān wǎn fàn)They have three bowls of rice
她要三户 (Tā yào sān hù) She wants three households (because the measure word is also the noun its measuring it acts as both and only uses one character)
妳今天有空嗎?
You today have free time?妳 [你] you
nǐ
ㄋㄧˇ今天 today
jīn tiān
ㄐㄧㄣ ㄊㄧㄢ有 have
yǒu
ㄧㄡˇ空 free time
kòng
ㄎㄨㄥˋ嗎 [吗] (makes a statement a question)
ma
ㄇㄚ・
对于世界而言,你是一个人;
但是对于某个人, 你是他的整个世界。
Duìyú shìjiè ér yán, nǐ shì yīgè rén;
Dànshì duìyú mǒu gèrén, nǐ shì tā de zhěnggè shìjiè.
我現在很忙
wǒ xiàn zài hěn máng
I now (am) very busy
我 I
wǒ
現在 [现在] now
xiàn zài很 very
hěn忙 busy
máng
*Notes:
In Chinese, it is very important that subject is first, time is next, and verb is last. Therefore, I (subject) now (time) am very busy (verb) is the correct order, and it is key to maintain this form.
When traditional characters and simplified characters differ, simplified characters are written in brakets.
perhaps, maybe
(Finally! I’ve been living in Taiwan for four months, and I just now learned this word!!)