量词
liàng cí
Measure words for counting
Beyond 个: every noun has a measure word that matches its shape or category.
Number + Measure Word + Noun
How it works
一个人, 一杯水, 一本书, 一件衣服, 一张纸, 一只猫. The measure word is chosen by the noun, and using the right one is a large part of sounding fluent.
Many are transparent once you see the logic: 本 for bound volumes, 张 for flat things, 条 for long thin things, 杯 for cupfuls, 只 for animals and one of a pair.
个 remains the fallback. Using it where a specific measure word exists is understood, if slightly childlike.
Examples
yì bēi shuǐ
一杯水
a glass of water
wǒ mǎi le liǎng běn shū
我买了两本书。
I bought two books.
tā yǎng le sān zhī māo
他养了三只猫。
He keeps three cats.