Contrastive study between English and Chinese Unit words 汉语量词与英语特殊量词的比较 I.Unit words in Chinese Unit words in Chinese are used between words of number and noun,indicating unit of things.There are two categories of unit words in Chinese:1.indicating person or things(物量词)，2.indicating action or behavior(动量词) l.Three categories of unit words indicating person or things(三类物量词) (I)length,volume,and weight;:weights and measures(表度量衡的单位)，如“尺、里、 吨等。 (2)Ordinary unit words(一般量词)，such as“个、只、本、间”etc. (3)Feature or state of things as unit words(以事物特征、状态来衡量的量词)such as “头、口、杯、发、条”tc. 2.Two categories of unit words indicating action or behavior(两类动量词)： (I)Special unit words indicating action or behavior(专用动量词)，such as“次、遍、 番、阵、顿etc. (2)Borrowed unit words indicating action or behavior(借用动量词)，namely,nouns relating to actions or behavior are used as unit words(借用与动作有关的名词)，such s“刀（砍一刀），“笔”（写一笔），“星期（讨论一星期）等。 3.Structure of unit words::quantifier+unit words(数量结构)，E.g 三斤肉，一头牛，一杯咖啡，一山树，一屋人，一架书，五匹布， 两桶水，一块煤，一粒米，一剂药，两行树，一朵花，一线希望， 四排房子，三堆鸡蛋 Occasionally only the quantifier appears in the structure,but the cases are often found in the discourse of Classic Chinese..汉语偶尔也有不用量词的，这不过在古 汉语中出现。如： 卧室里是一桌一凳一床，床板只有两块。(《朝花夕拾琐记》) 撤屏视之，一人，一桌，一椅，一扇，一抚尺而已。(《口技》) Exceptions: (1)In some idioms,there are only quantifiers but no unit words,such as: 千言万语，九牛一毛，三人一组，七上八下，三头六臂，一心一意，三言两 语，七嘴八舌，一草一木，一砖一瓦 (2)Nouns of administrative zones have only quantifiers but no unit words,such as: 三省，五市，两县。 II.Unit words in English 1.Quantifier /indefinite article noun(plural or single),such as: A(one)book 一本书 three Workers 三个工人 four rifles 四枝枪
1 Contrastive study between English and Chinese Unit words 汉语量词与英语特殊量词的比较 I. Unit words in Chinese Unit words in Chinese are used between words of number and noun, indicating unit of things. There are two categories of unit words in Chinese: 1. indicating person or things(物量词); 2. indicating action or behavior(动量词) 1. Three categories of unit words indicating person or things (三类物量词) (1) length, volume, and weight; weights and measures(表度量衡的单位)，如“尺、里、 吨”等。 (2) Ordinary unit words (一般量词), such as “个、只、本、间”etc. (3) Feature or state of things as unit words (以事物特征、状态来衡量的量词) such as “头、口、杯、发、条” etc. 2. Two categories of unit words indicating action or behavior(两类动量词)： (1)Special unit words indicating action or behavior(专用动量词)，such as“次、遍、 番、阵、顿”etc. (2) Borrowed unit words indicating action or behavior(借用动量词), namely, nouns relating to actions or behavior are used as unit words (借用与动作有关的名词), such as“刀”(砍一刀)，“笔”(写一笔)，“星期”(讨论一星期)等。 3. Structure of unit words: quantifier + unit words (数量结构), E.g. 三斤肉，一头牛，一杯咖啡，一山树，一屋人，一架书，五匹布， 两桶水，一块煤，一粒米，一剂药，两行树，一朵花，一线希望， 四排房子，三堆鸡蛋 Occasionally only the quantifier appears in the structure, but the cases are often found in the discourse of Classic Chinese. 汉语偶尔也有不用量词的，这不过在古 汉语中出现。如： 卧室里是一桌一凳一床，床板只有两块。(《朝花夕拾.琐记》) 撤屏视之，一人，一桌，一椅，一扇，一抚尺而已。(《口技》) Exceptions: (1) In some idioms, there are only quantifiers but no unit words, such as: 千言万语，九牛一毛，三人一组，七上八下，三头六臂，一心一意，三言两 语，七嘴八舌，一草一木，一砖一瓦. (2) Nouns of administrative zones have only quantifiers but no unit words, such as: 三省，五市，两县。 II. Unit words in English 1. Quantifier / indefinite article + noun (plural or single), such as: A (one) book 一本书 three Workers 三个工人 four rifles 四枝枪
six cars 六辆汽车 five tractors 五部拖拉机 seven lathes 七台车床 eight lamps 八盏灯 ten houses 十栋房屋 2.Quantifier indefinite article +noun(as unit words)+of noun(plural or single), such as: a packet of cigarettes 一包纸烟 a company of soldiers 一连士兵 two groups of children 两群小孩 a team of horses 一队马 three heaps of eggs 三堆鸡蛋 four blocks of houses 四排房子 (1)Quantifier/indefinite article +noun (feature or state of things)+of noun (plural or single)(以事物特征、状态来衡量的量词”，such as: a bar of chocolate 一条巧克力 a blanket of snow 片白雪 a blast of wind 阵风 a cake of soap 块肥皂 a coat of paint “层油漆 a cut of pork 块肉 a drop of water 一滴水 a speck of dust 一粒灰尘 a sheet of skin 张皮 (2)Quantifier/indefinite article+noun+of+noun(abstract)(用以表示抽象名词数 量单位的“量词”，such as: an article of food 种食品 an item of news 一则消息 a period of time 一段时间 a bout of fighting 一场战斗 a chain of thought 一连串想法 a flash of hope 一线希望 a round of applause 一阵掌声 a scene of great rejoicing ·片欢腾 a shower of criticism 阵批评 a wisp of smoke “缕轻烟 a peal of thunder 一阵雷声 a gleam/a ray of hope 一线希望 a plot of land 一小块地 (3)Indefinite article+noun(collective concept)十of+noun(plural)(用以表示一群、 2
2 six cars 六辆汽车 five tractors 五部拖拉机 seven lathes 七台车床 eight lamps 八盏灯 ten houses 十栋房屋 2. Quantifier / indefinite article +noun (as unit words) + of + noun (plural or single), such as: a packet of cigarettes 一包纸烟 a company of soldiers 一连士兵 two groups of children 两群小孩 a team of horses 一队马 three heaps of eggs 三堆鸡蛋 four blocks of houses 四排房子 (1) Quantifier / indefinite article +noun (feature or state of things)+ of + noun (plural or single) (以事物特征、状态来衡量的“量词”, such as: a bar of chocolate 一条巧克力 a blanket of snow 一片白雪 a blast of wind 一阵风 a cake of soap 一块肥皂 a coat of paint 一层油漆 a cut of pork 一块肉 a drop of water 一滴水 a speck of dust 一粒灰尘 a sheet of skin 一张皮 (2) Quantifier / indefinite article +noun + of + noun (abstract) (用以表示抽象名词数 量单位的 “量词”, such as: an article of food 一种食品 an item of news 一则消息 a period of time 一段时间 a bout of fighting 一场战斗 a chain of thought 一连串想法 a flash of hope 一线希望 a round of applause 一阵掌声 a scene of great rejoicing 一片欢腾 a shower of criticism 一阵批评 a wisp of smoke 一缕轻烟 a peal of thunder 一阵雷声 a gleam/a ray of hope 一线希望 a plot of land 一小块地 (3) Indefinite article +noun (collective concept)+ of + noun (plural) (用以表示一群
群体或集合概念的量词)，such as: English Chinese an army of workers 一大队工人 a batch of new cadres 一批新干部 a body of people 一大组人 a circle of friends 一群朋友 a galaxy of talents 一大批英才 a file of soldiers 列士兵 a troop of scouts 队童子军 a mob of gangsters 一伙歹徒 a bouquet of flowers 一束花 a bunch of grapes 一串葡萄 a night of doves 一群鸽子 a cluster of bees 一群蜜蜂 a litter of kittens 一窝小猫 a mountain of books 一大堆书 a series of articles 系列文章 a sea of flags 一片旗海 a set of tools 套工具 a spate of jokes “串笑语 III.Similarities between Chinese and English unit words 1.Structural similarities three dozen pencils 三打铅笔 ten-meter yarn 十公尺的纱线 five-kilogram packs 五公斤包装 IV.Difference in certain unit words between English and Chinese l.“qun”(群)in Chinese→？in English Chinese English Notes (1) 一群人 a crowd of people 无组织和无秩序的人群 群观众 a crowd of spectators 群女学生 a group of girl students (2) “群旁观者 有一定组织的 a group of onlookers 群才子 a galaxy of talents (3) 群美女 出色或著名的人物群 a galaxy of beauties 群欢迎者 a troop of welcomers (4) 正常行进中的群 群示威者 a troop of demonstrators “群影迷 a throng of film fans 为数众多的挤在一处或向前涌去的 (5) 群人 a throng of people 群 一群匪徒 a band of gangsters 明显的轻蔑色彩，通指强盗、匪徒等 (6) 一群劫匪 a gang of robbers 的群（帮、伙） 群羊 a flock of sheep 飞鸟家禽、牲畜的群，尤指羊群 “群鸭 a flock of ducks
3 群体或集合概念的量词), such as: English Chinese an army of workers 一大队工人 a batch of new cadres 一批新干部 a body of people 一大组人 a circle of friends 一群朋友 a galaxy of talents 一大批英才 a file of soldiers 一列士兵 a troop of scouts 一队童子军 a mob of gangsters 一伙歹徒 a bouquet of flowers 一束花 a bunch of grapes 一串葡萄 a night of doves 一群鸽子 a cluster of bees 一群蜜蜂 a litter of kittens 一窝小猫 a mountain of books 一大堆书 a series of articles 一系列文章 a sea of flags 一片旗海 a set of tools 一套工具 a spate of jokes 一串笑语 III. Similarities between Chinese and English unit words 1. Structural similarities three dozen pencils 三打铅笔 ten-meter yarn 十公尺的纱线 five-kilogram packs 五公斤包装 IV. Difference in certain unit words between English and Chinese 1．“qun”（群）in Chinese → ? in English (1) Chinese English Notes 一群人 a crowd of people 无组织和无秩序的人群 一群观众 a crowd of spectators (2) 一群女学生 a group of girl students 有一定组织的 一群旁观者 a group of onlookers (3) 一群才子 a galaxy of talents 出色或著名的人物群 一群美女 a galaxy of beauties (4) 一群欢迎者 a troop of welcomers 正常行进中的群 一群示威者 a troop of demonstrators (5) 一群影迷 a throng of film fans 为数众多的挤在一处或向前涌去的 一群人 a throng of people 群 (6) 一群匪徒 a band of gangsters 明显的轻蔑色彩，通指强盗、匪徒等 一群劫匪 a gang of robbers 的群(帮、伙) (7) 一群羊 a flock of sheep 飞鸟家禽、牲畜的群，尤指羊群 一群鸭 a flock of ducks
“群牛 a herd of cattle (8) 指大动物的群 群马 a herd of horses 群豺狼 a pack of wolves (9) 野兽、猎犬等的群 群猎犬 a pack of hounds 群建筑物 a cluster of buildings (10) 集结物体的群（簇、堆） 群海岛 a cluster of islands 2.“piece'”in English→？in Chinese English Chinese Notes a piece of wood 一块木头 a piece of paper 一张纸 a piece of coal 一块煤 a piece of clothing 一件衣服 a piece of furniture 一件家具 a piece of news 一条新闻 a piece of advice 一项忠告 a piece of information 一则消息 Used before uncountable nouns a piece of poetry 一首诗 a piece of music 一支乐曲 a piece of prose 一篇散文 a piece of good luck 回好运气 a piece of kindness 一番好意 a piece of folly 一桩蠢事 a piece of chalk 一枝粉笔 3.Plural forms of English unit words,such as: drops of tears 泪珠 two groups of children 两群小孩 streams of people 川流不息的人 multitudes of islands 大群大群的岛屿 myriads of stars 无数的星星 4.English"unit words"with modifiers,such as: English Chinese Notes an increasing number of students 不断增加的学生 a rising flow of foreign visitors 越来越多的外国来客 a large gathering of people 一大群人 a new generation of people 一代新人 Structurally the a stagnant pool of water 一潭死水 adjective is the modifier a mere scrap of paper 纸空文 of the unit word.but a rich assortment of goods 一批各式各样的货物 semantically it is the a new round of talks “轮新的会谈 modifier of the central a thin coat of ice 一层薄冰 noun
4 (8) 一群牛 a herd of cattle 指大动物的群 一群马 a herd of horses (9) 一群豺狼 a pack of wolves 野兽、猎犬等的群 一群猎犬 a pack of hounds (10) 一群建筑物 a cluster of buildings 集结物体的群(簇、堆) 一群海岛 a cluster of islands 2．“piece” in English → ? in Chinese English Chinese Notes a piece of wood 一块木头 Used before uncountable nouns a piece of paper 一张纸 a piece of coal 一块煤 a piece of clothing 一件衣服 a piece of furniture 一件家具 a piece of news 一条新闻 a piece of advice 一项忠告 a piece of information 一则消息 a piece of poetry 一首诗 a piece of music 一支乐曲 a piece of prose 一篇散文 a piece of good luck 一回好运气 a piece of kindness 一番好意 a piece of folly 一桩蠢事 a piece of chalk 一枝粉笔 3. Plural forms of English unit words, such as: drops of tears 泪珠 two groups of children 两群小孩 streams of people 川流不息的人 multitudes of islands 大群大群的岛屿 myriads of stars 无数的星星 4. English “unit words” with modifiers, such as: English Chinese Notes an increasing number of students 不断增加的学生 a rising flow of foreign visitors 越来越多的外国来客 a large gathering of people 一大群人 a new generation of people 一代新人 Structurally the adjective is the modifier of the unit word, but semantically it is the modifier of the central noun. a stagnant pool of water 一潭死水 a mere scrap of paper 一纸空文 a rich assortment of goods 一批各式各样的货物 a new round of talks 一轮新的会谈 a thin coat of ice 一层薄冰
V.Exercises l.s一阵”in Chinese→？in English Chinese English Notes (1) 一阵尴尬 a twinge of embarrassment (2) 一阵哭泣/喝彩炮击/雷声 a burst of tears/cheers/gunfire/ 突然爆发出的 thunder 量如洪水，滔滔 (3) 一阵泪雨/瓢泼大雨/夸夸其谈 a flood of tears/rain/boasts 不绝 a)一阵（小）雨/射击 a)a spatter of rain/bullets (4) 少量或稀疏的 b)一阵稀疏的掌声喝彩 b)a spatter of applause/cheers (5) 一阵隆隆的炮声/雷声 a peal of artillery/thunder 响亮或轰鸣声 (6) 阵暴雨狂风烈火 a gust/blast of rain/wind/flame 突然而猛烈的 (7 一阵怒气/激情咳嗽 a fit of anger/passion/coughing 持续短暂的 (8) 阵呕吐 a vomiting fit (9) 一阵厄运/屠热 a spell of bad luck/summer heat 持续一段时间的 a)一阵寒潮 a)a cold spell of weather 天气、疾病等持 (10) b)一阵昏厥 b)a fainting spell 续 a twinge of remorse/toothache/ (11) 一阵内疚/牙痛/风湿痛 针捻刀刺般的 rheumatism a spasm of pain/grief/coughing/ (12) 一阵痛苦/伤心咳嗽/激动 抽搐或颤抖的 excitement a)一阵轰炸/打击/咒骂 a)a hail of bombs/blows/curse (13) 雹打雨淋般的 b)一阵弹雨/批评 b)a shower of bullets/criticism (14) 一阵欢乐 an agony of joy (感情的)爆发 (15) 阵子爱意 a flush of love 兴奋：激动 a)一点点工作 a)a stroke of work 16) b)一阵心脏病发作 抽，一击 b)a stroke of heart attack 2. Translate the following phrases into Chinese.Pay special attention to the grammatical function of the two nouns before and after"of'. a great mountain of wave 高山似的波涛 a park of a factory 公园般的工厂 a shell of a man 骨瘦如柴的人 a saint of a man 圣人似的人物 a palace of a house 宫殿似的房屋 a fairyland of a country 仙境似的国土 a whale of a scientist 位了不起的科学家 3.Translate the following phrases into Chinese.Pay special attention to the drop of unit words in the Chinese version
5 V. Exercises 1．“一阵” in Chinese → ? in English Chinese English Notes (1) 一阵尴尬 a twinge of embarrassment (2) 一阵哭泣/喝彩/炮击/雷声 a burst of tears/ cheers/ gunfire/ thunder 突然爆发出的 (3) 一阵泪雨/瓢泼大雨/夸夸其谈 a flood of tears/ rain/ boasts 量如洪水，滔滔 不绝 (4) a) 一阵（小）雨/射击 b) 一阵稀疏的掌声/喝彩 a) a spatter of rain/ bullets b) a spatter of applause/ cheers 少量或稀疏的 (5) 一阵隆隆的炮声/雷声 a peal of artillery/ thunder 响亮或轰鸣声 (6) 一阵暴雨/狂风/烈火 a gust/ blast of rain/ wind/ flame 突然而猛烈的 (7) 一阵怒气/激情/咳嗽 a fit of anger/ passion/ coughing 持续短暂的 (8) 一阵呕吐 a vomiting fit (9) 一阵厄运/暑热 a spell of bad luck/ summer heat 持续一段时间的 (10) a) 一阵寒潮 b) 一阵昏厥 a) a cold spell of weather b) a fainting spell 天气、疾病等持 续 (11) 一阵内疚/牙痛/风湿痛 a twinge of remorse/ toothache/ rheumatism 针捻刀刺般的 (12) 一阵痛苦/伤心/咳嗽/激动 a spasm of pain/ grief/ coughing/ excitement 抽搐或颤抖的 (13) a) 一阵轰炸/打击/咒骂 b) 一阵弹雨/批评 a) a hail of bombs/ blows/ curse b) a shower of bullets/ criticism 雹打雨淋般的 (14) 一阵欢乐 an agony of joy (感情的)爆发 (15) 一阵子爱意 a flush of love 兴奋;激动 (16) a) 一点点工作 b) 一阵心脏病发作 a) a stroke of work b) a stroke of heart attack 一抽,一击 2 ． Translate the following phrases into Chinese. Pay special attention to the grammatical function of the two nouns before and after “of”. a great mountain of wave 高山似的波涛 a park of a factory 公园般的工厂 a shell of a man 骨瘦如柴的人 a saint of a man 圣人似的人物 a palace of a house 宫殿似的房屋 a fairyland of a country 仙境似的国土 a whale of a scientist 一位了不起的科学家 3．Translate the following phrases into Chinese. Pay special attention to the drop of unit words in the Chinese version