Parent guide: Grade 3 Mandarin 4.2 三本书, 两只猫: Measure Words

At a glance

Time: 3 sessions of 20–30 minutes
Goal: Use 只 for animals, 本 for books, 张 for flat things and 杯 for cups. Ask how many with 几 + measure word. Remember that God cares for even two little sparrows.
You need: Books, paper, toy animals, cups, a few other things
Four labels: 本, 张, 只, 杯
A King James Bible
Print: Worksheet A · the lesson page (it also has a short video (3:46))

Steps

Warm-up
Do this together: In English we say “a sheet of paper,” “a cup of water,” “a herd of cows.” Chinese uses these little words all the time, for almost everything.
Teach the new idea
Read aloud: The big idea. Each kind of thing has its own measure word. 三sān本běn书shū (three books), 两liǎng只zhī猫māo (two cats), 一yì张zhāng纸zhǐ (a sheet of paper), 一yì杯bēi水shuǐ (a cup of water). When in doubt, 个 is often understood.
Read aloud: How many? Use 几jǐ + measure word: 你nǐ有yǒu几jǐ只zhī猫māo? Answer with a number + the same measure word: 两只.
Read aloud: Sparrows. In Matthew 10:29 the Chinese Bible says 两个麻雀, using 个 for the birds. Jesus said not one sparrow falls without the Father.
New words
Do this: Say each word clearly; your child says it back twice. Point to a picture or the real thing when you can.
- 只 (zhī) [jr (high)]: for animals
- 本 (běn) [bun (dipping)]: for books
- 张 (zhāng) [jahng (high)]: for flat things
- 杯 (bēi) [bay (high)]: a cup of
- 几 (jǐ) [jee (dipping)]: how many
Show how
Show: Say “four dogs.”
Say this: “Animals use 只.”
Say this: “Four = 四.”
Answer: 四只狗.
Show: Ask “How many books do you have?”
Say this: “How many = 几.”
Say this: “Books use 本.”
Answer: 你有几本书?
Practice together
Do this: Ask out loud. Let your child try first; help only after a real try.
Ask: Which measure word goes with 书?
Listen for: 本.
Ask: Which measure word goes with 纸?
Listen for: 张.
Ask: Say “two cups of milk.”
Listen for: 两杯牛奶.
2 more on the lesson page.
Project: Measure word sorting
Read aloud: Sort objects by their measure word.
Steps:
1. Put the four labels on the table.
2. Sort each object under its measure word.
3. Count each group in Chinese: 三本书, 五张纸….
4. Quiz a partner: 你有几本书?
Tips for you:
- Say the full phrase every time.
Done when your child can say:
- I sorted everything correctly.
- I counted each group with the right measure word.
From history
Read aloud: Chinese has dozens of measure words. Some are poetic: 一条河 (a “strip” of river), 一朵花 (a “blossom” of flower), 一头牛 (a “head” of cattle).
Watch for
- Using 只 for books. 只 is for animals; books use 本.
- Saying 两 without a measure word: 两书 → 两本书.
Game: Measure word bingo
Make bingo cards with nouns (书, 猫, 纸, 水…). The caller says a measure word; cover a noun that goes with it and say the phrase.
Narration
Say this: “Tell me what you learned today.”
Listen for: Use 只 for animals, 本 for books, 张 for flat things and 杯 for cups.; Ask how many with 几 + measure word.; Remember that God cares for even two little sparrows.
Scripture
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.
Matthew 10:29 (KJV)
Chinese Union Version (和合本): <span class="zh-block" lang="zh-Hans">两个麻雀不是卖一分银子吗？</span><span class="py-line">Liǎng gè má què bú shì mài yì fēn yín zi ma?</span> Two sparrows were sold for almost nothing, yet God watches over each one. You are worth more than many sparrows.

Spread over the week

3 sessions of 20–30 minutes. Stop while it is still going well.

Session 1. Warm-up, then read and teach the new idea and the new words. Show how.
Session 2. Practice together, then start the project. Finish the project, then the sketchbook.
Session 3. Narration, the game and the Scripture.