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

Measure Words 打, 袋, 棵, 台 and 幅

Count dozens with 打, bags with 袋, trees with 棵, machines with 台 and paintings with 幅 instead of falling back on 个.

Pattern

number / 这 / 那 + 打, 袋, 棵, 台, 幅 + noun

Match the measure word to the thing: 棵 for trees, 台 for machines, 幅 for pictures on a wall.

我家新买了一台洗衣机。

When to use Measure Words 打, 袋, 棵, 台 and 幅

Like 个 or 本, these words sit between a number (or 这/那) and the noun: 一打鸡蛋, 两袋米, 一棵树, 三台电脑, 这幅画. Each fits a type of thing: 打 (dá) is “a dozen”, 袋 is “a bag of”, 棵 counts trees and plants, 台 counts machines, and 幅 counts paintings, maps and calligraphy. Using the right one instead of 个 makes your Chinese sound natural.

我买了一打鸡蛋。

I bought a dozen eggs.

妈妈让我去买两袋米。

Mom asked me to go and buy two bags of rice.

学校门口有一棵大树。

There’s a big tree at the school gate.

墙上挂着一幅中国地图。

A map of China hangs on the wall.

Common traps

  • Say 一棵树, not 一颗树: 棵 is for trees and plants, 颗 for small round things like 一颗糖.
  • Say 一台电脑, not 一辆电脑: 辆 is only for vehicles, 台 is for machines.
  • As a measure word, 打 is read dá (一打鸡蛋 “a dozen eggs”), not dǎ as in the verb 打电话.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我买了一 自行车

I bought a bicycle
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