Hello Mandarin Enthusiasts! 🌟
I didn’t choose Mandarin because I had some big plan.
I was 12 years old, picking a second foreign language at school. Mandarin was on the list, and I thought the characters looked cool. That was about it.
Then I met Mrs. Collot, my Chinese teacher.
She taught me for four years. And she didn’t just teach the language. She shared her love for it. Somehow she made this strange, complex language feel exciting. And maybe without realizing it, she also passed on her love for teaching.
In 2011, she organized a two-week school trip to China. We spent ten days in Xiamen, and then a few days in Beijing. It was the first (and still only) time I’ve been to China.
That trip was unforgettable. But it was also a bit of a shock.
Because even after four years of lessons, I still struggled to keep up in real conversations. I wasn’t starting from scratch—thanks to Mrs. Collot, I had a solid foundation—but I suddenly saw how different textbook Mandarin was from the fast, messy, real-life version people actually speak.
I remember trying to ask for directions in Beijing and getting totally lost, not just in the city, but in the language. That feeling stuck with me.
But so did the spark. Because that trip, and everything Mrs. Collot gave us before it, made Mandarin feel real. And even though it was hard, I came home more motivated than ever.
I think about her a lot. The way she believed in us. The way she opened a door that completely changed my life. And honestly, I try to pass that same energy into every Chinese Grammar Gem I write, and every Pearls of Mandarin Worksheet I create.
We all need someone, or something, that keeps us moving forward.
So if you’ve ever had a mentor like that, or if you’re still looking for one, I hope these lessons help keep the spark alive for you too.
Let’s keep going, together. One step at a time. One gem at a time.
💎 This Week’s Gem: Plurals 💎
One of the first surprising things in Mandarin is that Chinese nouns never change form to indicate plural. There’s no equivalent of adding “-s” like in English. The word 苹果 (píngguǒ) can mean “apple” or “apples” depending entirely on context.
So how does Chinese express plurals? Instead of changing the noun itself, Mandarin uses a rich toolkit of context clues, numbers, measure words, and special plural markers. Today we’ll explore this complete system, starting with the most fundamental concept and building up to more advanced usage patterns.
🌱 The Foundation: Context Over Form
The most fundamental principle of Chinese plurality is that nouns stay exactly the same whether they’re singular or plural. This is actually liberating once you get used to it, since you never need to worry about irregular plural forms or remembering whether to add “-s” or “-es.”
Often, you don’t need to add anything at all. Context frequently makes the meaning clear, especially in general statements or when the situation obviously involves multiple items.
📚 Structure: [Noun] (no change needed)
Example
苹果很好吃。
苹果 / 很 / 好吃
Píngguǒ hěn hǎochī.
Apples are delicious.
apple / very / tasty
Here 苹果 clearly means “apples” in general because we’re making a statement about the fruit as a category. Chinese relies on this logical context rather than changing the noun form.
👥 Personal Pronouns: The 们 System
Chinese personal pronouns form their plurals by adding 们 (men), and this is one of the few cases where Chinese has a dedicated, mandatory plural marker.
The system is beautifully regular:
我 (wǒ) → 我们 (wǒmen) “we/us”
你 (nǐ) → 你们 (nǐmen) “you all”
他 (tā) → 他们 (tāmen) “they” (masculine/mixed)
她 (tā) → 她们 (tāmen) “they” (feminine)
它 (tā) → 它们 (tāmen) “they” (objects/animals)
One important note: there is no standard polite plural “you”. While you might expect 您们 (nínmen), this sounds awkward to most native speakers. Instead, use formal addresses like 各位 (gèwèi, “everyone”) when speaking to a group politely.
📚 Structure: [Pronoun] + 们
Example
她们是医生。
她们 / 是 / 医生
Tāmen shì yīshēng.
They are doctors.
they / be / doctor
Here 她们 indicates plural feminine “they,” while 医生 remains unchanged.
🤗 Inclusive vs. Exclusive: 咱们 and 我们
Chinese actually has two words for “we”: 我们 (wǒmen) and 咱们 (zánmen). Understanding the difference is crucial for natural-sounding Chinese.
咱们 is inclusive: it specifically means “we, including you (the listener).” It’s like saying “we together” in English.
我们 is general “we” and may or may not include the listener, depending on context.
For example:
我们公司 (wǒmen gōngsī) "“our company” (might exclude the listener)
咱们公司 (zánmen gōngsī) “our company” (definitely includes the listener)
咱们 creates warmth and inclusion, making it perfect for:
Suggestions: 咱们走吧 (zánmen zǒu ba, “Let’s go”)
Building camaraderie: 咱们一起努力 (zánmen yìqǐ nǔlì, “Let’s work hard together”)
Including the listener in plans: 咱们明天见 (zánmen míngtiān jiàn, “Let’s meet tomorrow”)
咱们 is more colloquial and common in northern China, especially Beijing. In formal writing, stick with 我们.
📚 Structure: 咱们 + [Verb Phrase]
Example
咱们去吃饭吧。
咱们 / 去 / 吃饭 / 吧
Zánmen qù chīfàn ba.
Let’s go eat.
we (including you) / go / eat meal / (suggestion particle 吧)
Here 咱们 explicitly includes the listener in the plan. The 吧 makes it a friendly suggestion.
🧑🤝🧑 们 for People: Rules and Restrictions
The suffix 们 isn’t limited to pronouns. It can also pluralize nouns referring to people. You’ll commonly hear 同学们 (tóngxuémen, “students”), 朋友们 (péngyǒumen, “friends”), 老师们 (lǎoshīmen, “teachers”), and formal addresses like 女士们先生们 (nǚshìmen xiānshēngmen, “ladies and gentlemen”).
们 is particularly common when:
Directly addressing a group: 同学们，好！ (tóngxuémen, hǎo!, “Students, hello!”)
Referring to a known group: 专家们提出了建议 (zhuānjiāmen tíchū le jiànyì, “The experts offered suggestions”)
Emphasizing the group as a collective unit
However, 们 has strict limitations that you must understand:
🚫 Critical Rule: 们 is primarily for people and animate beings only.
You cannot randomly attach 们 to any noun. Saying 苹果们 (“apple-men”) would sound bizarre to native speakers. The suffix 们 carries a strong sense of personhood or animacy.
Even with animals, 们 appears sparingly and usually in:
Personification contexts (fairy tales, children’s stories)
Cute or whimsical situations where animals are treated like little people
🚫 Another Critical Rule: Never use 们 when plurality is already indicated.
If you’ve used a number, quantifier, or other plural marker, adding 们 becomes redundant and awkward:
✅ 五个学生 (five students)
❌ 五个学生们 (five student-men)
✅ 很多老师 (many teachers)
❌ 很多老师们 (many teacher-men)
📚 Structure: [Human Noun] + 们
Example
花儿们在风中跳舞。
花儿们 / 在 / 风 / 中 / 跳舞
Huārmen zài fēng zhōng tiàowǔ.
The flowers are dancing in the wind.
flowers / at / wind / middle / dance
Using 们 here creates a poetic, personified image. In everyday speech, you’d simply say 花在风中摇曳 (huā zài fēng zhōng yáoyè, “flowers sway in the wind”), but 花儿们 gives the flowers human-like qualities.
🔢 Precision Through Numbers: Using Measure Words
When you need to specify an exact plural quantity, Chinese uses numbers with measure words. This is one of the most important systems to master because, unlike English, Chinese requires a measure word between any number and noun.
Think of measure words like “pieces” in “three pieces of paper,” except Chinese does this for virtually every countable noun. Each noun typically pairs with a specific measure word: 本 (běn) for books, 只 (zhī) for animals, 张 (zhāng) for flat objects like paper or photos, etc.
个 (gè) serves as the most versatile general measure word when you’re unsure of the specific one. Also remember that “two” in Chinese is 两 (liǎng) when used with measure words, not 二 (èr).
📚 Structure: [Number] + [Measure Word] + [Noun]
Example
教室里有五个学生。
教室 / 里 / 有 / 五 / 个 / 学生
Jiàoshì lǐ yǒu wǔ gè xuéshēng.
There are five students in the classroom.
classroom / inside / have / five / (measure word) / student
Notice we used 个 as the measure word and did not say 学生们. The number “five” already makes the plurality crystal clear.
👫 Special Quantities: Pairs and Groups
Chinese has specialized measure words that inherently indicate plural quantities. These are more precise and natural-sounding than generic numbers for certain types of groupings.
双 (shuāng) means “a pair” for identical items:
一双鞋 (yì shuāng xié, “a pair of shoes”)
一双筷子 (yì shuāng kuàizi, “a pair of chopsticks”)
对 (duì) means “a pair” for complementary or matching items:
一对夫妻 (yí duì fūqī, “a married couple”)
一对耳环 (yí duì ěrhuán, “a pair of earrings”)
打 (dǎ) means “a dozen” (borrowed from English):
一打鸡蛋 (yì dǎ jīdàn, “a dozen eggs”)
批 (pī) means “a batch”:
一批货物 (yì pī huòwù, “a batch of goods”)
一批学生 (yì pī xuéshēng, “a group of students”)
群 (qún) means “a group/crowd”
一群人 (yì qún rén, “a group of people”)
一群鸟 (yì qún niǎo, “a flock of birds”)
📚 Structure: 一 + [Special Measure Word] + [Noun]
Example
我有一双筷子。
我 / 有 / 一 / 双 / 筷子
Wǒ yǒu yì shuāng kuàizi.
I have a pair of chopsticks.
I / have / one / pair / chopsticks
Using 双 shows that chopsticks naturally come as a pair. If counting individually, you’d say 两根筷子 (liǎng gēn kuàizi, “two chopsticks”), but 一双筷子 is more natural.
✨ Indefinite Quantities: 些 and Its Variations
To express “some” or an unspecified plural amount, Chinese uses 些 (xiē), which is unique because it already implies plurality and doesn’t need a separate measure word.
些 appears in several important patterns:
一些 (yìxiē) - “some (amount of)”:
一些水果 (yìxiē shuǐguǒ, “some fruit”)
一些人 (yìxiē rén, “some people”)
这些/那些 (zhèxiē/nàxiē) - “these/those”:
这些书 (zhèxiē shū, “these books”)
那些孩子 (nàxiē háizi, “those children”)
Notice there’s no measure word with 些 because it already indicates an indefinite plural quantity.
有些 (yǒuxiē) at the beginning of a sentence means “some (of the...)”:
有些人说... (yǒuxiē rén shuō, “some people say...”)
Because 些 already indicates plurality, never combine it with 们 or numeric words, that would be redundant.
📚 Structures:
一些 + [Noun]
这/那 + 些 + [Noun]
有些 + [Noun] + [Verb Phrase]
Example
我有一些好朋友在中国。
我 / 有 / 一些 / 好朋友 / 在 / 中国
Wǒ yǒu yìxiē hǎo péngyǒu zài Zhōngguó.
I have some good friends in China.
I / have / some / good friends / in / China
Here 一些好朋友 indicates an indefinite plural (“some good friends”). No measure word is needed with 一些.
❓ Small Numbers: 几 for “A Few”
几 (jǐ) can mean “how many?” in questions, but more importantly for expressing plurality, it means “a few” or “several” in statements, typically referring to small numbers (usually under 10).
几 almost always requires a measure word in its structure, unlike 些.
For example:
我去了几次 (wǒ qù le jǐ cì, “I went a few times”)
有几个人没来 (yǒu jǐ gè rén méi lái, “A few people didn’t come”)
他买了几本书 (tā mǎi le jǐ běn shū, “He bought a few books”)
The difference between 几 and 一些:
几 requires a measure word: 几个人 (jǐ gè rén), 几本书 (jǐ běn shū)
一些 doesn’t: 一些人 (yìxiē rén), 一些书 (yìxiē shū)
几 implies a smaller, more specific range
一些 is broader and more indefinite
For emphasis, 好几 (hǎojǐ) means “quite a few”:
好几天 (hǎojǐ tiān, “quite a few days”)
好几个人 (hǎojǐ gè rén, “quite a few people”)
📚 Structure: 几 + [Measure Word] + [Noun]
Example
我认识几个中国朋友。
我 / 认识 / 几个 / 中国 / 朋友
Wǒ rènshi jǐ gè Zhōngguó péngyǒu.
I know a few Chinese friends.
I / know / a few / Chinese / friends
Using 几个 indicates a small number of friends, more than one or two, but not many. This gives a sense of modest quantity without being specific.
💯 Large Quantities: “Many” and “A Lot”
When expressing large plural quantities, Chinese offers several options with subtle differences:
很多 (hěn duō) - “very many/a lot”: This is the most common colloquial way to say “many.” It literally means “very many” and is used without a measure word.
很多人 (hěn duō rén, “many people”)
很多地方 (hěn duō dìfāng, “many places”)
不少 (bù shǎo) - “quite a lot”: Literally “not few,” this idiomatically means “quite a lot” with a slight implication of “more than expected.”
不少学生 (bù shǎo xuéshēng, “quite a few students”)
不少问题 (bù shǎo wèntí, ““quite a few problems”)
许多 (xǔduō) - “many” (formal): More common in written Chinese or formal speech. In daily conversation, 很多 is preferred.
许多人 (xǔduō rén, “many people”)
许多困难 (xǔduō kùnnán, “many difficulties”)
All of these function as quantifiers that come before the noun. With obviously countable nouns like 人 (people) or 学生 (students), measure words are typically omitted. For other nouns, you may include or omit the measure word in casual speech.
When using these “many” words, don’t add 们 to the noun since the quantity word already makes plurality clear.
📚 Structure: 很多/不少/许多 + [Noun]
Example
很多人喜欢中国菜。
很多 / 人 / 喜欢 / 中国菜
Hěn duō rén xǐhuān Zhōngguó cài.
Many people like Chinese food.
very many / people / like / Chinese food
Here 很多人 means “a lot of people.” No measure word is needed before 人. You could substitute 许多人 or 不少人 with essentially the same meaning.
Curious about your Mandarin mastery?
How many words, characters, or chengyu can you recognize?
📝 Recap
Context-based plurals: Chinese nouns never change form to indicate plural. Context determines whether a noun is singular or plural, making explicit plural markers unnecessary in many situations.
Personal pronouns + 们: Most personal pronouns form plurals by adding 们 (men): 我们 (wǒmen) “we,” 你们 (nǐmen) “you all,” 他们 (tāmen) “they,” though 您们 (nínmen) sounds awkward and formal addresses like 各位 (gèwèi) are preferred for groups.
咱们 vs 我们: 咱们 (zánmen) is inclusive “we” that specifically includes the listener, while 我们 (wǒmen) is general “we” that may or may not include the listener. 咱们 creates a sense of togetherness and inclusion in conversations.
Human nouns + 们: People-referring nouns can take 们 (men) to emphasize the group as a collective unit, but this is restricted to animate beings and cannot be used with numbers or other plural markers.
Number + measure word + noun: Exact plural quantities require a measure word between the number and noun, with 个 (gè) serving as the versatile general measure word and 两 (liǎng) used for “two” in this context.
Special measure words for specific quantities: Chinese has specialized measure words that inherently indicate plural quantities:
双 (shuāng): “a pair” for identical items like shoes or chopsticks
对 (duì): “a pair” for complementary or matching items like married couples or earrings
群 (qún): “a group,” commonly used with people and animals
批 (pī): “a batch” or organized group, often used for goods
打 (dǎ): “a dozen,” borrowed from English and commonly used with eggs
些 for indefinite plurals: 些 (xiē) creates indefinite plural expressions without requiring separate measure words:
一些 (yìxiē): “some” for unspecified quantities
这些/那些 (zhèxiē/nàxiē): “these/those” as plural demonstratives
有些 (yǒuxiē): “some (of the...)” for introducing general statements about partial groups
几 for small numbers: 几 (jǐ) expresses small quantities and always requires a measure word:
几 (jǐ): “a few,” typically under 10
好几 (hǎojǐ): “quite a few” for emphasis, suggesting more than just a couple
Large quantity expressions: Chinese offers several ways to express “many” with subtle differences:
很多 (hěn duō): most common colloquial way to say “many” or “a lot”
不少 (bù shǎo): “quite a lot” with implication of “more than expected”
许多 (xǔduō): formal equivalent of 很多, preferred in written Chinese
⛏️ Practice Makes Perfect
Understanding Chinese plurals is all about mastering context and choosing the right markers for the situation. These exercises will help you internalize when to use explicit plural markers versus relying on context, and how to express different types of quantities naturally. Remember, Chinese plurals aren’t just about grammar rules, but they reflect how Chinese speakers think about groups, quantities, and relationships. Practice translating these sentences and pay attention to which structures feel most natural for each context!
🌱 Easy
We should eat dinner together tonight.
Cats are very cute animals.
Some people think coffee tastes better than tea.
A dozen roses costs quite a lot of money.
🌳 Advanced
My grandmother’s collection includes hundreds of vintage photographs documenting three generations of family memories.
A group of international students organized a cultural exchange event to share traditions from their home countries.
During our summer vacation, we discovered dozens of hidden waterfalls nestled deep within the mountainous regions.
The mountaineers carefully planned their expedition route, considering weather patterns, altitude challenges, and emergency evacuation procedures.
🌟 Practice More with Pearls of Mandarin 🌟
When I was learning Mandarin, practicing regularly was the key that unlocked fluency for me. I’d love for you to have that same experience. That’s why I created the Pearls of Mandarin Worksheets.
Here’s how each resource in the subscription supports your journey:
PM Translation (Saturdays) – Each Saturday, you’ll get two sets of translation exercises from English to Mandarin:
🌱 Easy (HSK 2-3-4) – Great for mastering foundational grammar.
🌳 Advanced (HSK 4-5-6) – Perfect if you’re looking for deeper fluency and subtle nuances.
Each worksheet comes with detailed corrections and clear grammar explanations, helping you craft natural and authentic sentences. With practice, you’ll confidently translate grammar knowledge into real-life Mandarin skills.
PM Comprehension (Sundays) – Each Sunday, you’ll receive two comprehension texts with audio at both natural and slow speeds, full pinyin, and translations:
🌱 Easy (HSK 2-3-4) – Ideal for developing solid listening and comprehension skills.
🌳 Advanced (HSK 4-5-6) – Great if you’re ready to challenge yourself further.
These texts include vocabulary lists, HSK-style comprehension questions, and grammar notes, designed to boost your listening abilities and vocabulary in context.
Complete Access to the CGG Archive – With a paid subscription, you’ll unlock full access to the entire CGG library, including over 75 grammar lessons. Free subscribers only see the latest lesson, but this archive lets you revisit essential grammar anytime. Plus, you’ll get a handy PDF summary to quickly find exactly what you need.
If you think this could help in your journey as it helped in mine, subscribe to receive these resources in your inbox every weekend.
I’m here to share what I’ve learned and to support you as you make your way towards mastery.
That’s a wrap for today!
This weekend, look out for your PM Translation and PM Comprehension worksheets. They’ll give you the chance to apply what you’ve learned and keep improving your Mandarin skills.
Happy learning,
Pierre 🐼