A. Common classifiers
• 【hom，个、块、所、颗、粒、朵、元、座、盏、顶...】: most frequently used, and used with inanimate objects (including fruit, month, story, building, flower, money, mountain, light-stand, hat...), e.g.,
zuu hom waeu
one classifier bowl
"一个碗, a bowl."
• 【zuen，位】: it is only used with humans, e.g.,
hlaus zuen bhiengs
two classifier soldier
"两个士兵, two soldiers"
• 【laus，个、位】: it is only used with males whether a baby, child, boy or young man, e.g.,
zuu laus hluuek
one classifier child
"一个男孩, a boy"
• 【hauus，个、位】: it is only used with females whether a baby, child, girl or young woman, e.g.,
hlaus hauus hluuek
two classifier child
"两个女孩, two girls"
• 【lang，只】: it can be used with humans, animate objects and spiritual beings, e.g.,
fus lang kai
three classifier chicken
"三只鸡, three chickens"
• 【kuuengx，棵】: it is used with larger plants (flowers use "hom"), e.g.,
caus kuuengx cai
four classifier tree
"四棵树, four trees"
• 【fans，件】: it is used with shirts or blouses, e.g.,
ba fans veengs
five classifier shirt/top
"五件衣裳, five shirts or blouses"
• 【hyax，条、件】: it is used with trousers/pants, e.g.,
hlaus hyax kous
two classifier pants
"两条裤子, two pairs of pants"
• 【ruet，条】: it is used with skirts, e.g.,
zuu ruet riens
one classifier the traditional Hlai skirt
"一条筒裙, a skirt"
• 【tos，套】: it is used with a suit of clothes or an outfit, e.g.,
zuu tos veengs kous
one classifier shirt/top pants
"一套衣服裤子, a suit or outfit having a matching top and bottom"
• 【tut，套】: it is used with a suit or outfit of clothes, e.g.,
zuu tut veengs
one classifier shirt/top
"一套衣服, a suit of clothes"
• 【dhanx，条、根】: it is used with linear objects, e.g.,
zuu dhanx dhoei
one classifier rope
"一根绳子, a rope"
dom dhanx noms
six classifier river
"六条河, six rivers"
• 【viens，块，张】: it is used with massive or planar objects, e.g.,
tou viens noeng duis
seven classifier skin water buffalo
"七张牛皮, seven pieces of cow hides"
• 【rueis，块、张】: it is usually used with flat surfaced planar objects, e.g.,
hlaus rueis aek bou
two classifier meat pig
"两块猪肉, two slabs of pork"
fus rueis noeng loei
three classifier skin muntjak
"三张麂子皮, three pieces of chamois (small antelope) hide"
• 【ban，头、只】: it is used with cows or horses, e.g.,
hlaus ban gas
two classifier horse
"两匹马, two horses"
• 【pous/paus，堆】: it is used with a relative smaller pile (pous/paus is also a verb), e.g.,
zuu pous van
one classifier earth
"一堆土, a pile of earth"
zuu pous guns
one classifier firewood
"一堆柴, a pile of firewood"
• 【kun，堆】: it is used with a relative bigger pile, e.g.,，
zuu kun muens
one classifier rice in the husk
"一大堆稻谷, a large pile of rice"
• 【baep，把】: it is usually used with seedling (There is no wheat on the Island of Hainan/Hlai people's territory.), e.g.,
zuu baep fan
one classifier seedling
"一把秧, a handful of rice seedlings"
• 【hax，把】: it is usually used with rice, e.g.,，
zuu hax muens
one classifier rice
"一把稻子, one handful of rice"
• 【bhaeng，间】: it is usually used with a room or building, e.g.,
zuu bhaeng blongs
one classifier house
"一间屋子, a building/house"
zuu bhaeng qiafei
one classifier train
"一节火车厢, a box car"
• 【bhaengs，梭/颗、封】: it is usually used with letters (a written communication as one sent through the mail) a bullet or a firecracker, e.g.,
zuu bhaengs veji
one classifier bullet
"一梭/颗子弹, a bullet"
zuu bhaengs dienx
one classifier letter
"一封信, a letter"
• 【bhak，块】: it is usually used with flat objects, e.g.,
zuu bhak gias
one classifier glass
"一块玻璃, a piece of glass"
zuu bhak qias
one classifier paper
"一块硬纸片, a piece of cardboard"
• 【bheek，幅】: it is usually used with a picture or painting, e.g.,
zuu bheek ueix
one classifier picture/painting
"一幅画, a picture/painting"
• 【bhuek，把】: it is usually used with straw, e.g.,
zuu bhueks ngwiengs
one classifier straw
"一把稻草, a handful of straw"
• 【bhui，本】: it is usually used with books, e.g.,
hlaus bhui qias
two classifier book
"两本书, two books"
• 【cax，座】: it is usually used with mountains, e.g.,
zuu cax hwous
one classifier mountain
"一座山, a mountain"
• 【ceuus，枝、秆】: it is usually used with a pen or stick, e.g.,
zuu ceuus bhit
one classifier pen
"一支笔, a pen"
• 【cueng，枚】: it is usually used with a needle, e.g.,
zuu cueng guty
one classifier needle
"一枚针, a needle"
• 【dhien，畦or 幅】: it is usually used with farmland (rectangular plots of land in a field, separated by ridges, usually for growing vegetables), also used with cloth, e.g.,
zuu dhien van bheuudaeis
one classifier land/earth vegetables
"一畦菜地, a bed of vegetables"
zuu dhien dhop
one classifier cloth
"一幅布, a piece of cloth"
• 【dhun，户、家】: it is usually used with households, e.g.,
bhous fa zaux hlaus fuet dhun blongs.
Village our have two ten classifier households
"我们村子有二十户人家, There are twenty households in our village."
• 【gas，辆、架】: it is usually used with a car or a plane, e.g.,
zuu gas qia
one classifier car
"一辆车, a car"
zuu gas vabheny
one classifier airplane
"一架飞机, an airplane"
• 【ghoeix，行、排】: a row, a line, e.g.,
fus ghoeix cai
three classifier tree
"三行树, three rows of trees"
zuu ghoeix qias
one classifier word/letter
"一行字, one line of words"
• 【ha，缕】: it is usually used with light.
• 【hus，副】: it is usually used with playing cards, poker.
• 【hwoens，堆、块】: it is usually used with fields or objects that can be organized in a pile, e.g.,
zuu hwoens guns
one classifier firewood
"一堆柴火, a pile of firewood"
zuu hwoens dax
one classifier field
"一块水田, a field"
• 【hluut，层】: it means "layers" or "levels", e.g.,
fus hluut laeus
three classifier the floor in building
"三层楼, three floors"
Van neix zaux fus hluut na.
Land this have three classifier thickness
"这土有三层厚, This soil has three layers."
• 【ka，枝】: it is usually used with branches, e.g.,
zuu ka cai
one classifier tree
"一枝树枝, a branch"
• 【kok，棵】: it is usually used with mushrooms, e.g.,
zuu kok dhety
one classifier mushroom
"一棵菌子, a mushroom"
• 【koen，只】: it is usually used with one object in a pair, e.g.,
zuu kuen zuugoems
one classifier shoe
"一只鞋, a shoe"
zuu koen fiek
one classifier classifier
"半挑东西, a pole balanced on a shoulder by half a load being carried in the front and the other half being carried in the back (fiek: the action of carrying stuff on a shoulder becomes a classifier)."
• 【kou，张、顶】: it is usually used with mesh, e.g.,
zuu kou ghoeis hla
one classifier net fish
"一张鱼网, a fishing net"
• 【liemx，瓣】: it is usually used with a clove or segment of fruit, e.g.,
zuu liemx coembhem
one classifier grapefruit
"一瓣柚子, a piece of grapefruit"
• 【leep，叠】: it is usually used with thin objects like paper, e.g.,
hlaus leep qias
two classifier paper
"两层纸, two sheets of paper"
• 【leeps，瓣、片、层】: it is usually used with thin objects
• 【luuengs，把】: it is usually used with a saw (tool for sawing)
• 【moux，种、类】: it means a "kind, sort", e.g.,
neix zuu moux hleny
This one classifier good
"这一种好, This is a good one."
zaux hlenyhloei moux muens
have many classifier rice
"有好多种稻子, There are many kinds of rice."
• 【paeng，串】: it is usually used with fruit, e.g.,
zuu paeng zuuloengs
one classifier betel nut
"一串槟榔, a cluster of betel nut"
• 【pienx，把】: it is usually used with knives e.g.,
zuu pienx gas
one classifier knife
"一把刀, a knife"
• 【puens，杆、根】: it is usually used with tree trunks or any bar-like or rod-like objects, e.g.,
zuu puens cai
one classifier tree
"一根树干, a stump (or tree trunk)"
zuu puens bhit
one classifier pen
"一支笔, a pen"
• 【raeis，块、片】: it is used with fields, e.g.,
zuu raeis dax
one classifier field
"一片田, a field"
• 【ras，棵，株】: it is usually used with grass or rice, e.g.,
zuu ras gans
one classifier grass
"一棵草, a blade of grass"
• 【rok，块】: it is usually used with hillside fields (fields far from a water source), e.g.,
zuu rok ang
one classifier field
"一块刀耕地, a field"
(ang: specifically, a burned up plot of land that is fertilized for future farming by the remaining ashes; an ancient farming way of Hlai people, but now forbidden by the CN government)
fus rok pos
three classifier hillside field
"三块旱地, three fields on the hillside"
• 【ruets，摞】: it is usually used with massive objects
• 【taeu，批、群】: it is usually used with a batch of goods or a group of animals, e.g.,
caty zuu taeu liem
buy one classifier sickle
"买一批镰刀, buy a bundle of sickles"
zuu taeu dzeeng
one classifier goat/sheep
"一群羊, a flock of goats"
• 【tuueng，把】: it is usually used with farm tools, e.g.,
zuu tuueng rik
one classifier rake
"一把耙, a rake"
• 【vaen，梳、下】: it is usually used with comb-like, comb-shaped objects, e.g.,
zuu vaen hweek
one classifier banana
"一梳芭蕉, a bunch of bananas"
or it is used for counting the number of times of pestling, e.g.,
ceek fuet vaen
pestle ten classifier
"舂十下, pestle ten times"
• 【vans，张、页、幅、块】: it is usually used with paper products, e.g.,
zuu vans qia
one classifier paper
"一张纸, a piece of paper"
zuu vans diets
one classifier picture
"一幅照片, a photograph"
• 【voei，桶】: it is usually used with something that can be carried in a bucket, e.g.,
zuu voei ghei
one classifier rice
"一桶米, a bucket of rice"
• 【vong，嘟噜】: it is usually used with something formed as a cluster (tropical fruit is usually in clusters, such as coconuts, betel nuts), e.g.,
zuu vong coemcai
one classifier fruit
"一嘟噜果子, a cluster of fruit"
B. Classifiers for measurement
• 【mous，亩】: (Chinese acre) a unit of area to measure a land or field, about 667 square meters, e.g.,
zuu mous dax
one classifier field
"一亩田, one mu of field"
• 【dho，丈】: a unit of length to measure the length of linear objects, 1 dho is about 350 centimeters, e.g.
zuu dho dhop
one classifier cloth or textile
"一丈布, one zhang of cloth"
• 【qieux，尺】: a unit of length to measure the length of linear objects, 1 qieux is about 35centimeters, 10 qieux = 1 dho.
hlaus qieux dhop
two classifier cloth or textile
"两尺布, two feet of cloth"
• 【cuns，寸】: a unit of length to measure the length of linear objects, about 3.5 cm, 10 cuns = 1 qieux.
fus cuns dhop
three classifier cloth or textile
"三寸布, three inches of cloth"
• 【hlaenx，庹】: the length of two arms, about the height of a person, about 5–6 feet.
• 【hwuup，拃】: the distance between the thumb and the middle finger pressed down on a surface in a straight line, about 15–20 centimeters, e.g.,
zuu hwuup daeus
one classifier length
"一拃长, one zuo length"
• 【tunx，节】: the length of a finger, about 6–9 centimeters.
• 【dhas，石】: a unit of weight, e.g., fuetdhas ghei, "十石米 (fuet: ten, ghei: uncooked rice)." 1 dhas is probably equal to 150 gins, about 75 kg.
• 【dhaeu，斗】: a unit of weight, e.g.,zuu dhaeu ghei，"一斗米 (zuu: one, ghei: uncooked rice)."10 dhaeu = 1 dhas; 1 dhaeu = 10 kax = 15 gins, about 7.5 kg.
• 【kax，升】: a unit of weight, e.g.,fus kax ghei, "三升米 (fus: three, ghei: uncooked rice)." 1 kax = 1.5 gins, about 0.75 kg.
• 【gins，斤】: a unit of weight, e.g.,zuu gins hla，"一斤鱼 (zuu: one, hla: fish)." 1 gins = 16 luuengx; 1 gins = 0.5 kg.
• 【luuengx，两】: a unit of weight, e.g., zuu luuengxnyaeus，"一两盐 (zuu: one, nyaeus: salt)." 1 gins = 16 luuengx; 1 gins = 500 g; so 1luuengx = 31.25 g
• 【dhun，吨】: a modern unit of weight, 1000 kg, e.g., fauus dhun ghoei，"九吨铁, a ton of iron (fauus: nine, ghoei: iron)."
C. Classifiers derived from nouns or verbs
• 【kop，捧 or 把】: the original action of holding or carrying something in both hands becomes a measurement, e.g.,
zuu kop ghei
one classifier rice
"一捧米, one scoop of rice"
• 【koens，捆】: the original action of tying, binding or bundling up becomes a measurement, e.g.,
zuu koens hya
one classifier thatch or couch grass
"一捆茅草, a sheaf of thatch"
• 【bhiek，捆】: it is usually used with a bundle of objects that is carried on one's shoulders, e.g.,
zuu bhiek guns
one classifier firewood/sticks
"一捆柴, a bundle of firewood/sticks"
• 【zeems，撮】: the original action of picking up (with all five fingers) becomes a measurement, e.g.,
zuu zeems nyaeus
one classifier salt
"一撮盐, one pinch (using all five fingers) of salt."
• 【jims，撮】: the original action of picking up (with the thumb and forefinger/index finger) becomes a measurement, e.g.,
jims zuugit nyaeus
pick up a little of salt
"拈一点盐, a pinch (using only two fingers) of salt"
hlaus jims nyaeus
two classifier salt
"两撮盐, two pinches of salt"
• 【fiek，担or 双】: the original action of carrying a pole (usually bamboo-made) on a shoulder that is used for measurements becomes a measurement for things that were carried on poles, e.g.,
zuu fiek guns
one classifier firewood
"一担柴a bundle of firewood"
zuu fiek zuugoems
one classifier shoe
"一双鞋, a pair of shoes"
• 【gok，杯、瓶】: a cup (or a bottle), originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu gok noms
one classifier water
"一杯水, a cup of water"
zuu gok ghweis
one classifier oil
"一瓶油, a bottle of oil"
• 【waeu，碗】: a bowl, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu waeu tax
one classifier cooked rice
"一碗饭, a bowl of rice"
• 【boux/baux，岁】: a year, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu fuet ghou boux
one ten eight classifier
"十八岁, 18 years old"
• 【bhaem，围】: the original action of embracing something with two arms becomes a measurement, e.g.,
hlaus blaem cai
two classifier tree
"两围的树 tree size of two men's arms wrapped around it"
• 【comx，袋】: usually, objects that can be carried in bags that have become classifiers, e.g.,
zuu comx ghei
one classifier rice
"一袋米, a bag of rice"
• 【ding，升】: a barrel (made of coconut shells), originally a noun, becomes a measurement, e.g.,
zuu ding ghei
one classifier rice
"一升米, a barrel of rice"
• 【dhak，滴】: the original action is dripping; the meaning is "a drop", used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu dhak noms
one classifier water
"一滴水, a drop of water"
• 【dzuen，挂】: the stalk bananas grow on, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu dzuen hweek
one classifier banana
"一大挂芭蕉, a stalk of bananas"
• 【fas，阵】: as a noun it means sky, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu fas fun
one classifier rain/shower
"一阵雨, a (rain) shower"
• 【fiens，把】: as a noun it is the handle of farm tools, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu fiens gwaek
one classifier hoe
"一把锄头, a hoe"
• 【fok，块】: as a noun it is a place, area, or region, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu fok gom neix
one classifier region this
"这块地方, this region"
• 【gieps，夹】: the original action is sheaving the thatch, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
hlaus gieps hya
two. classifier thatch
"两夹茅草, two sheaves of thatch"
• 【guengs，篮、框】: a basket, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu guengs ghei
one classifier hoe
"一筐米, a basket of rice"
• 【guety，串】: a stick for threading some objects together, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu guety hla
one classifier fish
"一串鱼, a string of fish"
• 【neny，串】: a bamboo stick for threading some objects together, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu neny hla
one classifier fish
"一串鱼, a string of fish"
• 【neny，枝】: as a noun it means a little branch, but it can also be used as a classifier with a branch or flower, e.g.,
zuu neny ceeng
one classifier flower
"一枝花, a flower"
• 【ghongs，丛】: as a noun it means a grove, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu ghongs hweek
one classifier banana
"一丛芭蕉树, a grove of banana trees"
• 【hoep，盒】: as a noun it means a box, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu hoep cuax
one classifier matches
"一盒火柴, a box of matches"
• 【hwang，圈】: as a noun it means a ring, ferrule, or band, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu hwang zuu hwang noms
one classifier one classifier water
"一圈一圈的水, a ripple (of water)"
• 【hwaeng，垄】: as a noun it means a balk, that is to be heaped up with soil into ridges, e.g.,
zuu hwaeng man
one classifier a general term for potato
"一垄甘薯, a ridge of sweet potatoes"
• 【hwoens，丘、床】: as a noun it means something lined up forming a pattern, e.g.,
zuu hwoen dax
one classifier field
"一丘田, a field";
zuu hyoen haeus
one classifier quilt
"一床被子, a quilt"
• 【op，抱】: the original action is holding a baby, e.g.,
zuu op guns
one classifier firewood
"一抱柴火, an armful of firewood"
• 【puuen，代】: as a noun it means seniority in respect to age, and as a classifier it means "generations," e.g.,
fa buuen neix bhaeis zaux fus puuen bhe
We come here already have three classifier accent
"我们来这儿已有三代了, We've been here for three generations."
• 【rei，枝】: as a noun it means sprouts, and as a classifier it is used with sprouts.
• 【ruek，窝、笼、盒】: as a noun it means nest, cage, or box, and it can be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu ruek bou
one classifier pig/hug
"一窝猪, a litter of pigs"
zuu ruek kai
one classifier chicken
"一笼鸡, a cage of chickens"
zuu ruek aenx
one classifier cake
"一盒点心, a box of cakes"
Sometimes, it is also used with urine, e.g.,
zuu ruek dhou
one classifier urine
"一泡尿, a stream of urine"
• 【taen，场、趟】: as a noun it means altar (usually for worship of the demons or the ancestors), but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
bhaeis vuek zuu taen dings.
Already do one classifier demon
"已经祭了一趟鬼, (The priest) already sacrificed once to the demons."
• 【taeng，桶】: a bucket, originally a noun, becomes a classifier, e.g.,
zuu taeng noms
one classifier water
"一桶水, a bucket of water"
• 【tiep，夹】: the original action is picking up food up with chopsticks, but as a noun it means chopsticks, which can be used as a classifier referring to the food amount that is taken up with a pinch of the chopsticks, e.g.,
zuu tiep bheuucai
one classifier vegetable
"一夹菜, a chopstick-pinch of food"
• 【tuck，包】: the original action is to wrap up; bind up; enclose; pack, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu tuek dza
one classifier cigarettes
"一包烟, a pack of cigarettes"
• 【veeng，户】: as a noun it means lord or master, and as a classifier it can be used with households, e.g.,
zuu veeng
one classifier
"一户(人家), a household."
• 【zaemx，步】: as a noun it means step, and the verb is stepping or walking, but it can also be used as a classifier, e.g.,
zuu ghwaen zaemx
one hundred classifier
"一百步, one hundred steps"
• 【zeeng，穗、粒】: as a noun it means kernels (husks) of rice, but it can also be a classifier to mean the husks from a stalk of rice or something with larger kernels, e.g.,
zuu zeeng muens
one classifier rice
"一穗稻子, a stalk of rice"
zuu zeeng nyaeus
one classifier salt
"一粒粗盐, a grain of coarse salt"
