个 (個) ge

  1. ge measure word unit
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: The most common measure word, 个 is used to count a wide variety of things when each can be counted as an individual unit for nouns that do not have a more specialized measure word (CED '个' 1; CPT '个' 1; Guoyu '個' n 1; Ho 2002, '个'; Kroll 2015 '個' 1a, p. 132; XHZD '个' 1, p. 226). If the number of units is two then 两 should be used, not 二. For example, 把两个男孩 'two boys.' (Lao She, 2003, p. 247) 个 may also be used after an ordinal. For example, 第二个房间 'the second room.' (VOA, 2015-12-29) In literary Chinese, its use dates back to at least Northern and Southern dynasties (420–589) vernacular (Norman 1988, p. 115). For example, from the Song dynasty, 若有一个臣 'If there was a minister ...' (Zhu Xi, 1983, Preface on Commentary to the Great Learning)
  2. gè measure word before an approximate number
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Quantity
    Notes: (CED '个' 2; CPT '个' 2)
  3. gè particle after a verb and between its object
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Quantity
    Notes: (CED '个' 4; ; CPT '个' 3; Guoyu '個' particle)
  4. gè measure word to indicate a sudden event
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: After 一 incidating suddenness (CED '个' 6; CPT '个' 5)
  5. gè adjective individual
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: As part of the composite word 个人 (CED '个' 7; CPT '个' 构词; Guoyu '個' adj; Kroll 2015 '個' 1, p. 132; XHZD '个' 2, p. 226)
  6. gè noun height
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语
    Notes: In the sense of 个子 (Guoyu '個' n 2; XHZD '个' 3, p. 226)
  7. gè pronoun this
    Domain: Modern Chinese 现代汉语 , Subdomain: Function Words
    Notes: In the sense of 此 (Guoyu '個' pronoun; Kroll 2015 '個' 2, p. 132)

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