HSK · Level 26
135 words
Chinese word
句
Pronunciation
Pinyinjù
Meaning
- measure wordsentence
Example
我只用一句话来解释。wǒ zhǐ yòng yí jù huà lái jiě shì
I use only one sentence to explain it.
More examples
这句话很有意思。zhè jù huà hěn yǒu yì si
This sentence is very interesting.
Core concept
A single, bounded unit of language that can be counted as one sentence, phrase, poetic line, or spoken line.
Common phrases
一句话yí jù huà
one sentence
说一句话shuō yí jù huà
say one sentence
几句话jǐ jù huà
a few words
Similar words
个gè: Counts people or things with the most general measure word.
段duàn: Counts one distinct part of a text or period of time.
行xíng: Counts a written line running across a page.
条tiáo: Counts things that are long and narrow or shaped like strips.
Definition in Chinese
作名词时指一个完整的句子或诗节；作量词时用于计算句子、诗句、台词等的单位。zuò míng cí shí zhǐ yí gè wán zhěng de jù zi huò shī jié zuò liàng cí shí yòng yú jì suàn jù zi shī jù tái cí děng de dān wèi
Word origin
The character 句 (jù, "sentence or line") has long referred to a bounded unit in speech or writing, which explains its use both as the noun for that unit and as the measure word that counts it.
Usage tips
- English usually changes the noun when the kind of language unit changes, while Chinese can keep one measure word across prose, poetry, and speech.