口、家、间
measure words for the people in a family, for shops and restaurants, and for rooms
Structure
数词 + 口 + 人 · 数词 + 家 + 商店／饭馆 · 数词 + 间 + 房间
What it means
Three measure words: 口 for the people in a family, 家 for shops, restaurants and companies, 间 for rooms.
How it is built
Number + 口 + 人: 我家有四口人. Number + 家 + shop: 两家商店 (two shops). Number + 间 + room: 这间房间很大 (This room is big).
When to use it
个 goes with most nouns, but these nouns have their own. 这, 那 and 几 take them too: 这间房间, 几家饭馆？ For people in general, use 个: 门口有三个人.
Watch out
口 is only for counting a family: ✗ 门口有三口人 ✓ 门口有三个人. Say 两, not 二, before a measure word: ✗ 二家 ✓ 两家.
Examples
我家有四口人：爸爸、妈妈、哥哥和我。
There are four of us: Dad, Mum, my older brother and me.
楼下有两家商店，还有一家饭馆。
There are two shops downstairs, and a restaurant too.
这间房间很大。
This room is big.
Learn this in HSK 1 · Lesson 7: 我家楼下有商店 (My neighbourhood)
A dialogue, a reading, word cards with audio and a drill that uses it, in Learn Chinese with Bao. The first lessons of every level are free.
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