Grammar-- Numeral-Measure Word Phrases 量词

A numeral-measure word phrase combines a numeral and a measure word right into a phrase. One sort of numeral-measure word phrase combines a numeral and a nominal measure word. For example:

一人(yì rén) one person
两本 (liǎng běn) two books
三辆 (sān liàng) three vehicles

Another kind of numeral-measure word phrase a numeral and a verbal measure word. For example:

一遍 (yí biàn) one time
两趟 (liǎng tàng) two trips
三次 (sān cì) three times

In general, the particle 的 (de) is not used between a numeral-measure word phrase and a noun. Nevertheless, when then measure word and the noun are not the usual match the particle 的 (de) should be used. For example:

两公斤的苹果 (liǎng gōng jīn de píng guǒ) two kilograms of apples
漂亮的手表 (piào liàng de shǒu biǎo) a beautiful watch

Some nouns can be used after the numeral “一”to act temporarily as measure word, expressing a large quantity. For example:

一书包的书 (yì shū bāo de shū) a bag of books
一桌子的菜 (yì zhuō zǐ de cài) a table of dishes

When the numeral “一”is used in a numeral-measure word phrase in front of the object then it can be omitted. For example:

买一瓶水 (mǎi yì píng shuǐ) =买瓶水 (mǎi píng shuǐ) buy a bottle of water
吃一碗饭 (chī yì wǎn fàn) =吃碗饭 (chī wǎn fàn) have a bowl of rice