个 meaning and stroke order
(classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier); (bound form) individual
How to write 个, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 个
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier)
- (bound form) individual
- variant of 個|个[ge4]
- used in 自個兒|自个儿[zi4 ge3 r5]
How 个 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A tally 丨 of people 人.
Radical: 丨 (number one), shared by 11 characters on this site.
How to remember 个
Picture a person 人 standing over a single tally mark 丨. Each mark counts one individual, so 个 (gè) is the word for counting people and things one by one.
个 is the most common measure word in Chinese. It goes between a number or 这/那 and a noun, especially when you do not know the noun's specific classifier. Example: 我有两个朋友。(Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge péngyou.) I have two friends.
Common mistake: Learners often write 两个 as 二个. Before a measure word you must use 两 (liǎng), so say 两个人, not 二个人. Also note that 个 is usually read in the neutral tone (ge) after numbers, as in 一个 (yí ge).
Common words with 个
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 个子 | gèzi | stature; height; size (of a person or object); (agriculture) bundle of cereal stalks tied | HSK 2 |
| 整个 | zhěnggè | whole; entire | HSK 3 |
| 个人 | gèrén | an individual; oneself; (attributive) personal; one's own | HSK 3 |
| 个性 | gèxìng | individuality; personality | HSK 3 |
| 各个 | gègè | every; various | HSK 4 |
| 上个月 | shàng ge yuè | last month | HSK 4 |
| 下个月 | xià ge yuè | next month | HSK 4 |
| 个别 | gèbié | individually; one by one; just one or two; exceptional; rare | HSK 4 |
| 个体 | gètǐ | an individual; self-employed individual; small business operator (abbr. for 個體戶|个体户[ge4 ti | HSK 4 |
| 个儿 | gèr | size; height | HSK 5 |
| 个案 | gè'àn | individual case; special case | HSK 7-9 |
| 个头儿 | gètóur | size; height | HSK 7-9 |
| 一个劲儿 | yīgejìnr | erhua variant of 一個勁|一个劲[yi1 ge4 jin4] | HSK 7-9 |
| 一个 | yīge | a; an; one; the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc) |
个 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 个
How many strokes are in 个?
个 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 个 mean?
个 (gè) means (classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier); (bound form) individual. A common word with it is 个子 (gèzi), meaning "stature; height; size (of a person or object); (agriculture) bundle of cereal stalks tied ".
How do you pronounce 个?
个 is pronounced gè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 个?
The radical of 个 is 丨, which carries the idea of "number one". Dictionaries list 个 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 个?
The traditional form of 个 is 個 and 箇. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 个 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 个 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 个 is part of the HSK 1 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 1.
Can I use 个 for every noun?
In casual speech many people use 个 for nouns whose proper classifier they forget, and you will be understood. But some nouns sound wrong with 个, such as 一本书 (yì běn shū) for a book or 一张纸 (yì zhāng zhǐ) for a sheet of paper, so it is worth learning the common specific classifiers.
Why does 一 change tone in 一个?
一 (yī) becomes second tone before a fourth tone syllable. Since 个 is originally fourth tone (gè), 一个 is said yí ge, even when 个 itself is spoken lightly.