個 (gè) - Individual & single

個Tone 4

gè ｜ 10 strokes ｜ radical:

枫惠

個 · gè

Individual;

single;

unit;

measure word for people, objects, or general items.

Individualsingleunit

Usage highlights

One personThis oneThat oneWhich oneEach oneIndividual case

Synonyms

  • 各— each; every
  • 单— single; individual
  • 独— alone; single

Antonyms

  • 众— many; numerous
  • 群— group; crowd
  • 全— whole; complete

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • One person(一个人)
  • Three apples(三个苹果)
  • This item(这个物品)
  • Each individual(每个个人)
  • Personal opinion(个人意见)

Collocations

  • One person(一个人)
  • This one(这个)
  • That one(那个)
  • Which one(哪个)
  • Each one(每个)
  • Individual case(个案)

Idioms

  • Each goes his own way(各奔前程)
  • Everyone has his own strong points(各有所长)
  • Each airs his own views(各抒己见)
  • Each in his own way(各有千秋)
  • Every family has its own troubles(各家有各家的难处)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant 'bamboo stalk' in ancient Chinese, later extended to mean 'individual' or 'single unit'
  • In modern Chinese, it is one of the most commonly used measure words, applicable to people and many objects
  • Reflects the Chinese linguistic feature of using specific measure words for different types of nouns

FAQ