Units that need no classifier

Level 2

In Cantonese, most nouns need a classifier (like 個 (go3)) between the number and the noun. However, Unit Nouns (like years, days, and dollars) are unique because they act as their own classifiers. You count them directly: [Number + Unit Noun].

How It Works

Cantonese grammar usually requires a specific measure word (classifier) to count objects. Unit Nouns are a specific category where the noun itself provides the measurement information, making an additional classifier redundant.

1. Common Unit Nouns:

  • Time (Points): 點 (dim2 - o'clock). Example: 兩點 (loeng5 dim2 - 2:00).
  • Time (Duration): 年 (nin4 - year), 日 (jat6 - day), 分鐘 (fan1 zung1 - minute), 秒 (miu5 - second).
  • Money: 蚊 (man1 - dollar). Note: 蚊 is the colloquial version of the formal 元 (jyun4).
  • Age: 歲 (seoi3 - years old).

2. The Number Two:
When counting exactly two of these units, you must use 兩 (loeng5) instead of 二 (ji6). For example: 兩蚊 (loeng5 man1 - two dollars). However, if the number is part of a compound (like 22), use 二 (ji6), e.g., 二十二歲 (ji6 sap6 ji6 seoi3 - 22 years old).

3. Units that REQUIRE a classifier:
Be careful to distinguish between points in time (unit nouns) and certain durations which are regular nouns requiring 個 (go3):

  • Hours (Duration): 兩個鐘頭 (loeng5 go3 zung1 tau4 - two hours). Contrast this with 兩點 (loeng5 dim2 - two o'clock).
  • Months: 三個月 (saam1 go3 jyut6 - three months). Note: 三月 (saam1 jyut6) without a classifier means 'March'.
  • Weeks: 兩個星期 (loeng5 go3 sing1 kei4 - two weeks).

Examples (6)

  1. 我今年二十歲。

    I am 20 years old this year.

    Word by Word: I this year twenty years-old.

    歲 (seoi3) is a unit noun for age. It follows the number 二十 (ji6 sap6) directly. Note that for compound numbers like 20, we use 二 (ji6) instead of 兩 (loeng5).

  2. 而家兩點。

    It is two o'clock now.

    Word by Word: Now two o'clock.

    點 (dim2 - o'clock) is a unit noun for points in time. When the quantity is exactly two, we use 兩 (loeng5).

  3. 呢支水要八蚊。

    This bottle of water costs eight dollars.

    Word by Word: This [classifier] water need eight dollars.

    蚊 (man1) is the colloquial unit for dollars. It normally takes no classifier like 個 (go3).

  4. 佢喺日本住咗三年。

    He lived in Japan for three years.

    Word by Word: He at Japan live [perfective] three years.

    年 (nin4) is a unit noun for time duration. Note that 咗 (zo2) marks the completed action.

  5. 等我五分鐘。

    Wait for me for five minutes.

    Word by Word: Wait me five minutes.

    For counting duration, 分鐘 (fan1 zung1) is the unit noun. The shorter form 分 (fan1) is typically reserved for specific clock times (e.g., 3:05).

  6. 我等咗你兩個鐘頭。

    I waited for you for two hours.

    Word by Word: I wait [perfective] you two [classifier] hour.

    Contrast this with points in time: while 'o'clock' (點 dim2) is a unit noun, 'hours' (鐘頭 zung1 tau4) is a regular noun that requires the classifier 個 (go3).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the general classifier 'go3' with unit nouns.

    我三十二個歲。
    我三十二歲。

    Adding 個 (go3) before 歲 (seoi3) is redundant and sounds unnatural to native speakers.

  • Confusing 'three months' with 'March'.

    我喺度住咗三月。
    我喺度住咗三個月。

    月 (jyut6) is NOT a unit noun. Without 'go3', it refers to the month of the year (March). With 'go3', it refers to a duration (three months).

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Units that need no classifierLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand unit nouns that don't require a classifier, you first need to be familiar with the standard Cantonese counting structure (Number + Classifier + Noun). You should also understand the basic concept of classifiers and how the number 'two' changes form when used in counting frames.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.