一脸, 一屋子, 一桌子 for “A Face Full,” “A Roomful”
Borrow nouns like 脸, 手, 盒, 屋子 and 桌子 as measure words to say “a box of” or “a whole face, room or table full of.”
Pattern
一 + 脸 / 手 / 屋子 / 桌子 (+ 的) + noun; number + 盒 + noun
Some nouns can work as measure words. 盒 counts things in a box. With 一, the body or place nouns 脸, 手, 屋子 and 桌子 mean the whole face, hands, room or table is full of something.
妈妈做了一桌子菜。
When to use 一脸, 一屋子, 一桌子 for “A Face Full,” “A Roomful”
Chinese can “borrow” a noun and use it as a measure word. 盒 is a container: 一盒牛奶, 两盒饼干, with any number, just like “a box of.” The other four nouns are about a surface or a space: 一脸, 一手, 一屋子, 一桌子. With these the number is almost always 一, and 一 here means “the whole, full of”: 一脸汗 is a face covered in sweat, 一屋子人 is a room full of people, 一桌子菜 is a table full of dishes.
生日那天，家里来了一屋子客人。
On my birthday, the house was full of guests.
他刚打完球，一脸的汗。
He has just finished playing ball, and his face is covered in sweat.
我去超市买了两盒牛奶。
I went to the supermarket and bought two boxes of milk.
他做饭的时候弄了一手油。
He got oil all over his hands while cooking.
Common traps
- With 脸, 手, 屋子 and 桌子, keep the number as 一: 一屋子人, not 三屋子人. 一 here means “the whole.”
- Don’t mix up counting the thing and filling it: 一张桌子 is “one table,” but 一桌子菜 is “a table full of dishes.”
- 盒 is an ordinary container measure word, so it takes any number: 三盒饼干 is fine.
Targeted drill
Practice this exact pattern before moving on.
Keep this pattern in review.
You just practiced a real grammar card. Create a free account to save this pattern, schedule the next review, and keep studying from where you left off.
$9.99
Monthly
Per month
Best Value
$49.99
Yearly Unlimited
Per year
$119.99
Lifetime
One-time