HSK 4 Measure Words / HSK4 量词专项

8 measure words new at HSK 4 (打/袋/棵/台/幅/场/顿/趟) + 5 borrowed MW (脸/手/盒/屋子/桌子) + HSK 3 review. Each with examples, common-error tips, and an 8-question quiz.

Why Measure Words Matter at HSK 4 / 为什么 HSK4 重视量词

Measure words (量词) are tested in every HSK 4 mock exam — usually in the 选词填空 reading section and 排词成句 writing section. The HSK 4 syllabus formally introduces 8 new measure words plus the special category of "borrowed measure words" (借用量词) where ordinary nouns like 脸/手/盒 act as measure words. Knowing the right MW for each noun is a high-yield, easy-win area.

8 Measure Words New at HSK 4 / HSK 4 新增的 8 个量词

These are formally tested at HSK 4 — none appear in HSK 1-3.

打
dá
noun MW (loanword)

Use: a dozen of (small items, especially eggs/beer)

买一打鸡蛋。
Mǎi yì dá jīdàn.
Buy a dozen eggs.
他喝了半打啤酒。
Tā hē le bàn dá píjiǔ.
He drank half a dozen beers.
💡 Borrowed from English 'dozen'. Same meaning, fixed pinyin (dá, not dǎ which means 'to hit').
袋
dài
noun MW (containers)

Use: a bag of (rice, sugar, snacks, etc.)

妈妈买了一袋大米。
Māma mǎi le yí dài dàmǐ.
Mom bought a bag of rice.
孩子吃了两袋薯片。
Háizi chī le liǎng dài shǔpiàn.
The child ate two bags of chips.
💡 Used for anything sold in a bag/sack. Common in supermarket scenes — frequently appears in HSK 4 listening.
棵
kē
noun MW (plants)

Use: for trees, plants, vegetables with roots

院子里种了几棵苹果树。
Yuànzi lǐ zhòng le jǐ kē píngguǒ shù.
Several apple trees are planted in the yard.
这棵树已经一百多年了。
Zhè kē shù yǐjīng yìbǎi duō nián le.
This tree is more than 100 years old.
💡 Use for things rooted in the ground: trees (棵树), grass (棵草), vegetables (棵白菜). Don't use for cut flowers — those use 朵 (duǒ).
台
tái
noun MW (machines)

Use: for machines, appliances, large devices

我刚买了一台新电脑。
Wǒ gāng mǎi le yì tái xīn diànnǎo.
I just bought a new computer.
这台机器已经用了十年。
Zhè tái jīqì yǐjīng yòng le shí nián.
This machine has been used for ten years.
💡 Use for: 电脑, 电视, 机器, 空调, 冰箱, 洗衣机, 钢琴 (piano). Anything mechanical or electronic that sits on a surface or is treated as a unit.
幅
fú
noun MW (flat art)

Use: for paintings, drawings, calligraphy, maps

墙上挂着一幅美丽的画。
Qiáng shàng guà zhe yì fú měilì de huà.
A beautiful painting hangs on the wall.
他写了一幅书法送给老师。
Tā xiě le yì fú shūfǎ sòng gěi lǎoshī.
He wrote a calligraphy piece for the teacher.
💡 幅 is for FLAT ART that you display: 画 (paintings), 字画 (calligraphy), 地图 (maps), 照片 (photos in formal contexts). For ordinary photos use 张 (zhāng) instead.
场
chǎng
verbal MW (events)

Use: for events that take place: matches, movies, rains

昨天看了一场精彩的足球比赛。
Zuótiān kàn le yì chǎng jīngcǎi de zúqiú bǐsài.
I watched an exciting football match yesterday.
下了一场大雨。
Xià le yì chǎng dà yǔ.
It rained heavily (one rainstorm fell).
💡 Use 场 for events with audience or natural events: 比赛, 电影, 演出, 雨, 雪, 病, 梦. Different from 次 (instance) — 场 emphasizes the EVENT itself.
顿
dùn
verbal MW (meals/scoldings)

Use: for meals, beatings, scoldings, fights

我们吃了一顿丰盛的晚餐。
Wǒmen chī le yí dùn fēngshèng de wǎncān.
We had a sumptuous dinner.
妈妈把孩子骂了一顿。
Māma bǎ háizi mà le yí dùn.
Mom scolded the child (one round).
💡 顿 measures one INSTANCE of eating, scolding, beating, or fighting. 'Three meals a day' = 一天三顿饭. 顿 with 骂/打 always implies the 'session' is complete.
趟
tàng
verbal MW (round trips)

Use: for trips, errands (going and returning)

我去了一趟超市，买了点儿菜。
Wǒ qù le yí tàng chāoshì, mǎi le diǎnr cài.
I made a trip to the supermarket and bought some food.
明天我要去一趟北京。
Míngtiān wǒ yào qù yí tàng Běijīng.
I'm going to Beijing tomorrow (a round trip).
💡 趟 = one round trip (go AND come back). Different from 次 — 次 just counts instances, 趟 emphasizes the going-and-returning action. Common with 去/来.

Borrowed Measure Words / 借用量词

Borrowed MW = ordinary nouns used as measure words. They give vivid, idiomatic descriptions and are tested in HSK 4 reading.

MWPinyinUseExample
脸liǎna face of (mostly emotion: 笑容/泪水)她脸上挂着一脸笑容。
Tā liǎn shàng guà zhe yì liǎn xiàoróng.
手shǒuskill / something held in hand他写得一手好字。
Tā xiě de yì shǒu hǎo zì.
盒héa box of请给我一盒糖果。
Qǐng gěi wǒ yì hé tángguǒ.
屋子wūzia roomful of (people, things)屋子里坐了一屋子人。
Wūzi lǐ zuò le yì wūzi rén.
桌子zhuōzia tableful of (food, dishes)妈妈做了一桌子菜。
Māma zuò le yì zhuōzi cài.

HSK 3 → HSK 4 Review / HSK 3 量词回顾

HSK 4 assumes you've mastered these from HSK 1-3. Quick refresh:

MWUseExample
条for long thin items一条鱼 / 一条裤子 / 一条路
张for flat items一张照片 / 一张纸 / 一张床
件for clothing/abstract things一件衣服 / 一件事
本for bound books一本书 / 一本词典
辆for vehicles一辆车 / 一辆自行车
瓶for bottles一瓶水 / 一瓶酒
杯for cups/glasses一杯茶 / 一杯咖啡
碗for bowls一碗饭 / 一碗汤
双for paired items一双鞋 / 一双袜子
副for sets/pairs一副眼镜 / 一副手套
篇for written articles一篇文章 / 一篇报道
首for songs/poems一首歌 / 一首诗

The 4 "Event" Measure Words — Most-Tested Distinction

Many HSK 4 candidates lose marks on 次 / 场 / 顿 / 趟 because all four feel like "time/instance" in English. Quick rule:

HSK 4 Measure Word Quiz / 量词测验

Test your understanding with these 8 HSK 4-style fill-in-the-blank questions.

Q1
妈妈刚刚买了一___鸡蛋。
Why: 鸡蛋 (eggs) are counted by the dozen → 打.
Q2
院子里有几___苹果树。
Why: Trees (planted, with roots) → 棵.
Q3
他刚买了一___新电脑。
Why: 电脑 (computer, an electronic device) → 台.
Q4
墙上挂着一___风景画。
Why: 画 (painting, displayed art) → 幅. 张 works for casual photos but 幅 is correct for paintings.
Q5
我们昨天看了一___精彩的比赛。
Why: 比赛 (a match/game, an event) → 场. 次 just counts but doesn't emphasize the event nature.
Q6
我们一家人吃了一___丰盛的晚餐。
Why: Meals are counted with 顿. 一顿饭 is the standard collocation.
Q7
我去了一___北京，办了点儿事。
Why: Round trip (went and came back) → 趟. 趟 emphasizes the going-and-returning.
Q8
他写了一___好字，让人羡慕。
Why: Skill in handwriting → 一手 (borrowed from 手 = hand, treated as MW for skills shown by hand).

Related HSK 4 Resources / 相关资源

HSK 4 Grammar Hub

把字句, 被字句, 比较句, complex sentences and more.

选词填空 Strategy

How to identify the right MW + collocation in HSK 4 fill-blank questions.

1000 HSK 4 Words

Includes all 8 new MW with example sentences.

Practice on 12 Mock Exams

Test your MW knowledge on real HSK 4 questions.

Apply this HSK 4 grammar in test conditions

⚡ Strategy
HSK 4 Measure Words test-taking tips
📝 Patterns
100 essential HSK 4 sentences
🎯 Practice
12 HSK 4 mock exams

Other HSK 4 Grammar Topics

把字句 Ba-Sentence 被字句 Passive 比较句 Comparison 补语 Complements 复句 Complex Sentences 副词 Adverbs 虚词 Function Words 兼语句 Pivotal Sentences 固定搭配 Fixed Patterns 修辞 Rhetorical

Review the full HSK 4 vocabulary (1000 words), common HSK 4 confusable word pairs (43), and sentence ordering exercises. For test-day reading, see all 9 HSK 4 strategy guides.