Learn a Chinese Character - 个

1. Character Basics

Radical: 人 (rén, person, indicates related to human or figure)

Stroke Count: 3

Structure Analysis: Single-component character, evolved from the ancient form of "人" (person). Originally meant "individual" or "one", later developed into a general classifier/measure word.

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gè (Fourth tone)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: Measure word (classifier) for general countable items; individual; one

Detailed Explanation: '个' is the most common and versatile measure word in Chinese. It can be used with many countable nouns when no specific measure word is available or appropriate. It is also used to refer to individuals or single units of something.

4. Common Words

• 个人 (gè rén): Individual; person

  每个人都有自己的想法。 (Měi gè rén dōu yǒu zìjǐ de xiǎngfǎ.) - Everyone has their own ideas.

• 两个 (liǎng gè): Two (used as a classifier)

  我买了两个苹果。 (Wǒ mǎi le liǎng gè píngguǒ.) - I bought two apples.

• 每个 (měi gè): Every; each

  每个学生都要参加考试。 (Měi gè xuéshēng dōu yào cānjiā kǎoshì.) - Every student must take the exam.

• 个别 (gè bié): Individual; specific; exceptional

  只有个别同学没有完成作业。 (Zhǐyǒu gèbié tóngxué méiyǒu wánchéng zuòyè.) - Only个别 students didn't finish their homework.

• 整个 (zhěng gè): Entire; whole

  整个城市都在庆祝节日。 (Zhěng gè chéngshì dōu zài qìngzhù jiérì.) - The whole city is celebrating the festival.

5. Grammar & Usage

Part of Speech: Primarily used as a measure word (classifier), but can also function as a noun or adjective.

Usage Patterns:

• As a measure word: Used between numerals and nouns (e.g., 一个苹果 - yī gè píngguǒ, one apple)
• With demonstratives: This/that + 个 + noun (e.g., 这个问题 - zhè gè wèntí, this question)
• As a noun: Refers to individuals (e.g., 三个臭皮匠，顶个诸葛亮 - Three cobblers with their wits combined equal Zhuge Liang)
• In set phrases: 个个 (each and every one), 个人 (individual)

Common Collocations:

• 一个 (yī gè): One (piece/unit)
• 两个 (liǎng gè): Two (pieces/units)
• 三个 (sān gè): Three (pieces/units)
• 每个 (měi gè): Every
• 整个 (zhěng gè): Entire
• 个人 (gè rén): Individual

6. Cultural Background

'个' is one of the most fundamental and frequently used characters in Chinese, reflecting the language's unique system of measure words.

Historical Development: Originally, '个' was a pictograph representing a person standing. Over time, its form evolved and its meaning expanded to include the concept of "individual" and eventually became a general measure word.

Cultural Significance: The widespread use of '个' as a measure word reflects the Chinese language's precision in quantifying objects and concepts. It also demonstrates how a character can evolve from a concrete meaning to a more abstract grammatical function.

Social Context: In daily life, '个' is indispensable for counting and referring to objects, people, and abstract notions. It's one of the first characters learned by Chinese language students due to its frequency and versatility.

Modern Usage: Today, '个' continues to be the most commonly used measure word in Mandarin Chinese, applicable to countless nouns when no specific measure word is needed.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

Component Analysis: '个' is a simple character with only 3 strokes. It resembles a person standing, which relates to its original meaning of "individual" or "one".

Visual Association: Imagine a stick figure of a person standing upright, which can help you remember both the form and the original meaning of '个'.

Usage Frequency: '个' is one of the most frequently used characters in Chinese. Practicing its use with different nouns will help reinforce your memory.

Memory Phrase: "一个人，三个笔画，最常用的量词" (Yī gè rén, sān gè bǐhuà, zuì chángyòng de liàngcí) - "One person, three strokes, the most commonly used measure word"