CHAPTER THREE

Nouns

(1) Plurals in Chinese

Every noun in Chinese is both singular and plural:

书 shū book or books

狗 gǒu dog or dogs

人 rén person or people

However, there are a limited number of nouns referring to people that can take the suffix men 们 to clarify that they are plural. This very short list includes the following:

friends péngyoumen 朋友们

children háizimen 孩子们

students xuéshengmen 学生们

(2) When counting things, measure words must always be used between the number and the noun

one person yíge rén 一个人

two cats liǎngzhī māo 两只猫

three books sānběn shū 三本书

Measure words must also be used between “this” or “that” and a noun:

this cat zhèizhī māo 这只猫

that book nèiběn shū 那本书

(3) This and that

This book zhèi (zhè) běn shū 这本书

That book nèi (nà) běn shū 那本书

These books zhèixie (zhèxie) shū 这些书

Those books nèixiē (nàxie) shū 那些书

These four books zhèi (zhè) sìběn shū 这四本书

Those four books nèi (nà) sìběn shū 那四本书

(4) Nouns for nationalities and languages

Correct usage for “China,” Zhōngguó 中国, and “Chinese language,” zhōngwén 中文:

Chinese = Zhōngguó 中国, when “Chinese” is an adjective that precedes a noun

Chinese = Zhōngguó rén 中国人, when “Chinese” refers to Chinese person/people

Chinese = Zhōngwén 中文 or Hànyǔ 汉语, when “Chinese” refers to the language

I have a Chinese pen.

Wǒ yǒu Zhōngguó bǐ.

我有中国笔。

My wife is Chinese.

Wǒ tàitai shì Zhōngguó rén.

我太太是中国人。

My wife teaches Chinese.

Wǒ tàitai jiāo Zhōngwén (Hànyǔ).

我太太教中文 (汉语) 。

The same rules apply for all nationalities and languages.

(5) All (of some noun): dōu 都 vs. suǒyǒude 所有的

The word dōu 都 (both/all) always follows the noun to which it refers; dōu 都 can NEVER precede a noun!

If you use suǒyǒude 所有的 for emphasis, it comes before the noun to which it refers; but you still need to put dōu 都 after that noun:

All children like candy.

Háizi dōu xǐhuān táng。

孩子都喜欢糖。

or, for emphasis:

✔ CC: Suǒyǒude háizi dōu xǐhuān táng.

所有的孩子都喜欢糖。

✖ BC: Dōu háizi xǐhuān táng.

都孩子喜欢糖。

Literally: All children like candy. (BUT dōu can NEVER precede a noun!)

I like all (or both) those children.

Nèixie háizi wǒ dōu xǐhuān.

那些孩子我都喜欢。

or, for emphasis:

Suǒyǒude nèixie háizi wǒ dōu xǐhuān.

所有的那些孩子我都喜欢。

(6) How to express the indefinites

Everyone, everything, everywhere, no one, nothing, nowhere:

Everything’s delicious.

Shénme dōu hǎochī.

什么都好吃。

Everywhere is noisy.

Nǎr (shénme dìfang) dōu hěn chǎo.

哪儿 (什么地方) 都很吵。

Nothing is delicious.

Shénme dōu bù hǎochī.

什么都不好吃。

Nowhere is quiet.

Nǎr (shénme dìfang) dōu bù ānjìng.

哪儿 (什么地方) 都不安静。

Whatever, whoever, wherever:

I’ll have (drink) whatever you’re having.

Nǐ hē shénme, wǒ jiù hē shénme.

你喝什么，我就喝什么。

Literally: You drink what(ever), I’ll (then) drink what(ever).

Whoever you like, I’ll like.

Nǐ xǐhuān shéi, wǒ jiù xǐhuān shéi.

你喜欢谁，我就喜欢谁。

Literally: You like who(ever), I’ll (then) like who(ever).

I’ll go wherever you go.

Nǐ dào nǎr qù, wǒ jiù dào nǎr qù.

你到哪儿去，我就到哪儿去。

Literally: You go where (wherever), I’ll (then) go where (wherever).

(7) How to express not even one bit of something

I don’t have any ____.

Wǒ yìdiǎn(r) ____ yě (or dōu) méiyǒu.

我一点儿 . . . . . . 也 (都) 没有。

I don’t want any ____.

Wǒ yìdiǎn(r) ____ yě (dōu) búyào.

我一点儿 . . . 也 (都) 不要。

I don’t have any money (at all).

Wǒ yìdiǎn(r) qián yě (dōu) méiyǒu.

我一点 (儿) 钱也 (都) 没有。

I don’t want any beer (at all).

Wǒ yìdiǎn(r) píjiǔ yě (dōu) búyào.

我一点 (儿) 啤酒也 (都) 不要。

However, for things that you can quantify/count, as in “I don’t even have one _____,” use wǒ yíge 我一个 (or appropriate measure word) yě (dōu) méiyǒu 也 (都) 没有:

I don’t even have one friend.

Wǒ yíge péngyou yě méiyǒu.

我一个朋友也没有。

I don’t even want one _____.

Wǒ yíge (or appropriate measure word) yě (dōu) búyào.

我一个 . . . 也 (都) 不要。

I don’t even want one hamburger.

Wǒ yíge hànbǎobāo yě búyào.

我一个汉堡包也不要。

I don’t even have one dollar.

Wǒ yíkuài qián yě (dōu) méiyǒu.

我一块钱也 (都) 没有。

I don’t even want one Japanese book.

Wǒ yìběn Rìwén shū yě (or dōu) búyào.

我一本日文 书也 (都) 不要。

(8) Location words

Relative location words come after the place or object, not before, as in English:

on the table

zhuōzi shàng(tou)

桌子上 (头)

Literally: table on/table top

in the store

shāngdiàn lǐ(tou)

商店里 (头)

Literally: store(’s) inside

BUT, never use lǐ(tou) 里 (头) after the name of a country or city:

Her home is in China.

✔ CC: Tā jiā zài Zhōngguó.

她家在中国。

✖ BC: Tā jiā zài Zhōngguó lǐ(tou).

她家在中国里 (头) 。