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HSK 2.0 Level 4+ HSK 3.0 Level 4+ 6 min read

场, 顿, 趟 for Counting Rain, Meals and Trips

Use the verb measure words 场, 顿 and 趟 to count a whole event, a meal or scolding, and a round trip.

Pattern

verb + (了) + number + 场 / 顿 / 趟 (+ object)

趟 counts trips there and back, 顿 counts meals and scoldings, and 场 counts a whole event such as a rain, a game or a film. They come after the verb, like 次.

周末我回了一趟老家。

When to use 场, 顿, 趟 for Counting Rain, Meals and Trips

Verb measure words say how many times an action happens, and they go after the verb: verb + (了) + number + measure word. 趟 is one trip somewhere and back: 去一趟超市, 回了一趟家. 顿 counts meals and also a round of scolding: 吃了一顿饭, 批评了他一顿. 场 counts a whole event from start to finish, such as weather or a show: 下了一场雨, 看了一场比赛. When the object is a pronoun like 他, it comes before the measure word: 批评了他一顿.

老师批评了他一顿。

The teacher gave him a good telling-off.

昨天晚上下了一场大雨。

It rained heavily last night.

你帮我去一趟超市，好吗？

Could you make a trip to the supermarket for me?

今天中午我们在饭馆吃了一顿饺子。

Today at noon we had a meal of dumplings at a restaurant.

Common traps

  • Put the measure word after the verb: 去一趟超市, not 一趟去超市.
  • With a pronoun object, the pronoun comes first: 批评了他一顿, not 批评了一顿他.
  • 趟 is for trips, not for things you do in one place: 看了一场电影, not 看了一趟电影.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

他一天只吃两 饭

He only eats two meals a day
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