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HSK 2.0 Level 2+ HSK 3.0 Level 2+ 5 min read

条, 位, 间, 名 and 包 for Roads, People, Rooms and Packets

条 counts long, thin things, 位 and 名 count people politely or formally, 间 counts rooms, and 包 counts things that come in a bag or packet.

Pattern

number / 这 / 那 + 条 / 位 / 间 / 名 / 包 + noun

Pick the measure word by the shape or kind of thing: 条 for long things, 位 and 名 for people, 间 for rooms, 包 for a bag or packet of something.

学校前面有一条小河。

When to use 条, 位, 间, 名 and 包 for Roads, People, Rooms and Packets

Like 个, these words go between a number (or 这/那/几) and the noun. 条 is for long, narrow things: 一条路, 一条河, 一条鱼, 一条裤子, and also dogs (一条狗). 位 is the polite word for people, used for teachers, guests and customers: 这位老师, 几位. 间 counts rooms: 一间教室, 两间屋子. 名 counts people by their role or in a set number, and it sounds formal, as in school reports or notices: 三名学生; it also gives a rank: 第一名. 包 is a borrowed measure word: the bag or packet becomes the unit, so 一包茶 is “a packet of tea”.

这条路很长。

This road is very long.

这位是我们的汉语老师。

This is our Chinese teacher.

我们学校有三十间教室。

Our school has thirty classrooms.

妈妈买了两包茶。

Mom bought two packets of tea.

Common traps

  • Don’t use 位 for yourself: say 我是一名学生 or 我是学生, not 我是一位学生.
  • 一包茶 is “a packet of tea”; 一个包 is “a bag” itself. Don’t mix them up.
  • 名 sounds formal. In casual talk, 三个学生 is more natural; keep 名 for reports, notices and ranks like 第一名.

Targeted drill

Practice this exact pattern before moving on.

我是我们学校的一 老师

I am a teacher at our school
Fill in the missing piece, then press Enter

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