个 张
Pattern
Number / 这 / 那 + measure word + noun
Key words
Core idea
Mandarin counted nouns usually need a measure word. The measure word sits between the number or demonstrative and the noun, so it becomes part of the noun phrase.
个 is broad and common. 张 is tied to flat things such as paper, tickets, photos, and tables.
Mini decision rule
Learn measure words as small chunks with nouns. That is more reliable than trying to translate the measure word by itself.
The basic order is number plus measure plus noun. Determiners such as “this,” “that,” and “which” can come before the number-measure phrase.
With the number two before a measure word, Mandarin normally uses 两, not the counting form for “two.”
Examples
我有一个问题。
Wǒ yǒu yí ge wèntí.
I have one question.
个 is the most common general measure word.
桌上有三张票。
Zhuō shàng yǒu sān zhāng piào.
There are three tickets on the table.
张 is used for flat objects such as tickets, paper, and photos.
那个人是谁？
Nà ge rén shì shéi?
Who is that person?
Common mistakes
Avoid
三票
Use
三张票
A measure word is normally required between a number and a noun.
Avoid
一张人
Use
一个人
张 is for flat things, not people.
Seen in stories
The Poster Without a Name
放学后，小林和小美在教室里看见三张海报。
After school, Xiaolin and Xiaomei see three posters in the classroom.
The Poster Without a Name
三张海报都没有名字。
None of the three posters has a name.
The Poster Without a Name
小林问：“这张是谁的？”
Xiaolin asks, “Whose is this one?”
The Poster Without a Name
他们把这张海报拿给老师。
They take this poster to the teacher.
A Postcard With No Name
小岛的邮局收到一张没有名字的明信片。
The island post office receives a postcard with no name.