The character 个 — “measure word”: how to write it and what it means
measure word
The Chinese character 个 is read gè and means “measure word”. Below: the stroke order step by step, what the character is made of and the words it appears in.
Stroke order: how to write 个
个 has 3 strokes. At each step the new stroke is highlighted — write them in the same order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical, a frame before what is inside it, and the bottom stroke of the frame last.
To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for 个, with strokes to trace and empty squares.
What 个 is made of
When counting it is read with the neutral tone: ge.
The parts of a character hint at its meaning or its reading — more in the article “Chinese character radicals”.
Words with 个
- 这个this oneHSK 1
- 那个that oneHSK 1
- 哪个which oneHSK 1
- 个子heightHSK 2
- 整个whole, entireHSK 4
- 各个each; one by oneHSK 4
- 个性individualityHSK 5
- 个别individual, isolatedHSK 5
- 个人individual; personalHSK 5
- 个体individual, specimen; self-employedHSK 6
Frequently asked questions
How do you write the character 个?
个 has 3 strokes. They follow the usual rules: top to bottom, left to right, horizontal before vertical, outside before inside. The order of each stroke is shown on this page.
What does 个 mean?
个 means “measure word”. It appears in 这个 (“this one”), 那个 (“that one”), 哪个 (“which one”), 个子 (“height”).
How do you pronounce 个?
个 is read gè. The tone is part of the reading: with another melody it becomes another syllable.
How many strokes does 个 have?
3 strokes.
← 的 possessive particle对 correct →
More characters on the page “Chinese characters with meanings” and in the list of HSK characters by level; whole words are in the dictionary.
Write 个 yourself
In the lessons you write characters stroke by stroke with a finger or a mouse, and the course checks the order. You can start for free, no sign-up needed.
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