個 meaning and stroke order
This, that; single; measure word for individuals
How to write 個, stroke by stroke
10 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
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
Meaning of 個
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- (classifier used before a noun that has no specific classifier)
- (bound form) individual
- used in 自個兒|自个儿[zi4 ge3 r5]
How 個 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Person.
亻 gives the meaning and 固 hints at the sound.
Radical: 亻 (man), shared by 277 characters on this site.
How to remember 個
個 is a person 亻 standing next to 固 (gù), which gives the sound. Picture one solid, fixed person you can count: one 個 at a time.
個 is the most common measure word in Chinese. It goes between a number or 這/那 and a noun, especially when the noun has no special classifier. It is often said in the neutral tone: 一個人 (yí ge rén) one person. It also appears in words about the individual, like 個人 (gèrén) personal and 個性 (gèxìng) personality.
Common mistake: Learners often use 個 for everything, even nouns that have their own classifier. Say 一本書 (yì běn shū), not 一個書. Also note that 一 changes to yí before 個, because 個 is fourth tone in its base form.
Common words with 個
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 個子 | gèzi | stature; height; size (of a person or object); (agriculture) bundle of cereal stalks tied | HSK 2 |
| 整個 | zhěnggè | whole; entire | HSK 3 |
| 個人 | gèrén | an individual; oneself; (attributive) personal; one's own | HSK 3 |
| 個性 | gèxìng | individuality; personality | HSK 3 |
| 各個 | gègè | every; various | HSK 4 |
| 上個月 | shàng ge yuè | last month | HSK 4 |
| 下個月 | xià ge yuè | next month | HSK 4 |
| 個別 | gèbié | individually; one by one; just one or two; exceptional; rare | HSK 4 |
| 個體 | gètǐ | an individual; self-employed individual; small business operator (abbr. for 個體戶|个体户[ge4 ti | HSK 4 |
| 個兒 | gèr | size; height | HSK 5 |
| 個案 | gè'àn | individual case; special case | HSK 7-9 |
| 個頭兒 | gètóur | size; height | HSK 7-9 |
| 一個勁兒 | yīgejìnr | erhua variant of 一個勁|一个劲[yi1 ge4 jin4] | HSK 7-9 |
| 一個 | yīge | a; an; one; the whole (afternoon, summer vacation etc) |
Questions about 個
How many strokes are in 個?
個 is written with 10 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 個 mean?
個 (gè) means this, that; single; measure word for individuals. 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 個?
個 is pronounced gè, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 個?
The radical of 個 is 亻, which carries the idea of "man". Dictionaries list 個 under this radical.
What is the simplified form of 個?
個 is a traditional character. Its simplified form is 个, used in mainland China and Singapore.
What is the difference between 個 and 个?
They are the same word. 個 is the traditional form used in Taiwan and Hong Kong, and 个 is the simplified form used in mainland China. There is also an old variant 箇 that you may see in older texts.
When is 個 pronounced gě?
Only in the colloquial word 自個兒 (zìgěr), meaning oneself. In almost every other case it is gè, or a light neutral-tone ge when used as a measure word.