3 ms·
Although if you just use the generic 个 for everything besides (formal) people, people will understand what you're saying and give you a pass for being a non-nat
by smallnamespace 9y ago
Although if you just use the generic 个 for everything besides (formal) people, people will understand what you're saying and give you a pass for being a non-native speaker.
At this point for me, the measure words are actually a help instead of a hindrance when I encounter a new noun that I don't know -- it hints strongly enough at what sort of noun I'm dealing with that the context usually allows meaning to more readily snap into place. More useful than memorizing generic masc./feminine/neuter for most Indo-European languages.
- SerLava 9y agoOh that's cool- so if they are talking about CERN and say "one particle accelerator" the counter might help you figure that out? (Assuming it isn't just like.. "parutikkuru akuseroreta" or something)
- Manishearth 9y agoThis seems to be true in Chinese as well. I know perhaps 10 measure words, but folks seem to be ok with it when I default to 个. (Chinese is also much simpler when it comes to measure words)