Chinese classifier
Usage

Chinese classifier

Section Title: Usage
Table Section Text: None

demonstrative	number	classifier	adjective	noun	English equivalent

NUM-CL-N	三（sān） three	只（zhī） CL	猫（māo） cat	"three cats"

DEM-CL-N	这（zhè） this	只（zhī） CL	猫（māo） cat	"this cat"

NUM-CL	三（sān） three	只（zhī） CL	"three (of them)"*

NUM-CL-ADJ-N	三（sān） three	只（zhī） CL	黑（hēi） black	猫（māo） cat	"three black cats"

DEM-NUM-CL-ADJ-N	这（zhè） this	三（sān） three	只（zhī） CL	黑（hēi） black	猫（māo） cat	"these three black cats"

NUM-CL-ADJ	三（sān） three	只（zhī） CL	黑的（hēi de）** black	"three black ones"*

* When "cats" is already evident from the context, as in "How many cats do you have?" "I have three."/"Three." ** When an adjective in Chinese appears by itself, with no noun after it, 的 is added to identify it as an adjective because many nouns can be used as verbs, adjectives and/or adverbs (e.g.

Sentence(s)

The structure of a classifier phrase is demonstrative – number – classifier – adjective – noun.

final_sentence: The structure of a classifier phrase is demonstrative – number – classifier – adjective – noun.