Units of length, weight and volume, fractions, per cent and the words for more and less.
Practise this list
From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
Units behave like measure words: they stand between the number and the noun, 两斤苹果, two jin of apples. Fractions and percentages are said whole first, part second: 三分之一 is "of three parts, one", a third, and 百分之十 is ten per cent. To give a measurement, put the adjective after it: 五米高, five metres high.
The words
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Verb (8)
算to calculate; to work outVerb3
你帮我算一下一共多少钱。Could you work out for me how much it comes to altogether?
乘以multiplied byVerb3
三乘以四等于十二。Three times four is twelve.
除以divided byVerb3
十除以二等于五。Ten divided by two is five.
等于to equal; to be the same asVerb3
一公斤等于两斤。One kilogram equals two jin.
剩下to be left over; to remainVerb3
蛋糕只剩下一小块了。There is only one small piece of cake left.
增加to increase; to addVerb3
这个月的工作增加了不少。There has been quite a lot more work this month.
减少to decrease; to reduceVerb3
为了健康，他减少了喝酒的次数。For the sake of his health he drinks less often.
超过to exceed; to be more thanVerb3
今天的气温超过了三十五度。Today the temperature went above thirty-five degrees.
Noun (11)
长度lengthNoun3
这条裤子的长度正合适。These trousers are just the right length.
高度heightNoun3
这张桌子的高度可以调。The height of this table can be adjusted.
宽度widthNoun3
这条路的宽度只有三米。This road is only three metres wide.
重量weightNoun3
行李的重量不能超过二十公斤。Luggage may not weigh more than twenty kilos.
距离distanceNoun3
两个城市之间的距离不远。The distance between the two cities is not great.
单位unit; workplaceNoun3
公里和米都是长度单位。Kilometres and metres are both units of length.
Also a workplace, especially a public one: 你在哪个单位工作？
比例ratio; proportionNoun3
这个班男生和女生的比例是一比二。In this class the ratio of boys to girls is one to two.
数字number; figureNoun3
很多中国人喜欢数字八。Many Chinese people like the number eight.
数量quantity; amountNoun3
我们要的不是数量，是质量。What we want is not quantity but quality.
部分part; sectionNoun3
你说的话我只同意一部分。I only agree with part of what you said.
全部all; the wholeNoun3
他把钱全部花完了。He has spent all his money.
Adverb (3)
总共altogether; in allAdverb3
我们班总共有二十个学生。There are twenty pupils in our class altogether.
Means the same as 一共.
大约about; approximatelyAdverb3
从这儿到车站大约要走二十分钟。It is about a twenty-minute walk from here to the station.
将近nearly; close toAdverb3
他在北京住了将近十年。He lived in Beijing for nearly ten years.
Numeral (3)
一半halfNumeral3
这本书我才看了一半。I have only read half of this book.
分之(in fractions) parts ofNumeral3
三分之一的人没来。A third of the people did not come.
The whole comes first: 三分之二 is two thirds.
百分之per centNumeral3
这次考试百分之九十的同学都通过了。Ninety per cent of the class passed this exam.
Said before the number: 百分之五, five per cent.
Measure word (12)
公里kilometreMeasure word3
从我家到学校有三公里。It is three kilometres from my home to the school.
The traditional 里 is half a kilometre.
米metreMeasure word3
这条河有一百多米宽。This river is more than a hundred metres wide.
The same character as rice; the context always tells them apart.
厘米centimetreMeasure word3
他比我高五厘米。He is five centimetres taller than me.
In speech often 公分.
毫米millimetreMeasure word3
这张纸不到一毫米厚。This sheet of paper is less than a millimetre thick.
公斤kilogramMeasure word3
这个箱子有二十公斤重。This box weighs twenty kilos.
斤jin (half a kilogram)Measure word3
我买了两斤苹果。I bought two jin, a kilo, of apples.
At the market fruit, vegetables and meat are priced by the 斤.
克gramMeasure word3
做这个蛋糕要两百克面粉。This cake needs two hundred grams of flour.
吨tonneMeasure word3
这辆卡车能装十吨货。This lorry can carry ten tonnes of goods.
升litreMeasure word3
这瓶水是一升的。This is a one-litre bottle of water.
毫升millilitreMeasure word3
这种药每次喝十毫升。Take ten millilitres of this medicine each time.
平方米square metreMeasure word3
我们的房子有八十平方米。Our flat is eighty square metres.
In speech usually 平米 or just 平.
倍times; -foldMeasure word3
这家店的价格是那家的两倍。Prices in this shop are twice those in that one.
Particle (1)
左右about; or so (after a number)Particle3
他看起来三十岁左右。He looks about thirty.
Comes after the number, where English puts "about" before it.
Place word (2)
以上above; over; or morePlace word3
十八岁以上的人才能报名。Only people aged eighteen or over can sign up.
