Chinese measure words

In Chinese you cannot put a number straight before a noun. You say 一本书 (yì běn shū) for “a book”, not 一书. The word in the middle, 本, is a measure word, also called a classifier. Measure words also follow 这 and 那: 这本书 is “this book”.

Each noun has its usual measure word, often chosen by the shape or the kind of thing: 条 for long, thin things, 张 for flat ones, 辆 for vehicles. When you are not sure, 个 is the general measure word and is usually understood.