Challenging Chinese Measure Words

　　 What are measure words? Let me give you an example: a piece of cake. We call piece a measure word. And in Chinese we say "piece" as "kuài"(块). A measure word always precedes a noun, if it is modified by a numeral, as you see above. There are hundreds of measure words in Chinese. Different measure words have different usage, which may make non-native speakers confused. Never mind! You know practice makes perfect. Just study here everyday, and you will be sure that: measure words? Just a piece of cake. 　

些(xiē): means a little, some or an indefinite amount of something, either abstract or concrete, or some people.

Yìxiē xuésheng　　　　 Jiàoshìlǐ yǒu yìxiē xuésheng.
一些　学生 　　　　　　教室里有一些学生。
Some students　　　　　classroom has some students
　　　　　　　　　　　 There are some students in the classroom.

yǒuxiē shìqing　　　　　Měigè rén dōu yǒuxiē shìqing zuò.
有些事情 　　　　　　　 每个人都有些事情做。
have something 　　　　 Everybody all had something do.
　　　　　　　　　　　　Everybody had something to do.

zhèxiē rìzi 　　　　　　Zhèxiē rìzi tā gōngzuò hěn máng.
这些日子　　　　 　　　 这些日子他工作很忙。
these days 　　　　　　 these days he work very busy.
　　　　　　　　　　　　He was busy with his work these days.

Yìxiē huà　　　　　　　 Tā huàle yìxiē huà
一些画　　　　　　　　　他画了一些画。
Some pictures 　　　　　He drew some pictures.

Yìxiē shíhou 　　　　　　Tā yǐjīng líkāi yìxiē shíhou le
一些时候　　　　　　　 　他已经离开一些时候了。
For a while　　　　　　　He already left for a while
　　　　　　　　　　　　　He has already left for a while.

Yìxiē huà 　　　　　　　 Jǐngchá duì sījī shuōle yìxiē huà
一些话 　　　　　　　　　警察对司机说了一些话。
Some words 　　　　　　　Policeman to driver say some words
　　　　　　　　　　　　 The policeman said something to the driver.