Traditional: 疋
HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

他买了一匹马。
Tā mǎi le yī pǐ mǎ.
He bought a horse.
我需要一匹布。
Wǒ xūyào yī pǐ bù.
I need a bolt of cloth.
他们俩是匹敌的对手。
Tāmen liǎ shì pǐdí de duìshǒu.
They are evenly matched opponents.
他有一匹马。
Tā yǒu yī pǐ mǎ.
He has a horse.
这匹布很漂亮。
Zhè pǐ bù hěn piàoliang.
This bolt of cloth is beautiful.

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine a horse wearing a 'P' (for pǐ) on its saddle. The word sounds like 'pee,' so think: 'I need one P (匹) to count that horse.' Associate it solely with animals you might ride or see pulling carts.

📝 Usage Notes

It is standard in both spoken and written Chinese across formal and informal contexts. Its primary use is in sentences describing the number of horses, mules, or donkeys, such as in farming, racing, or historical narratives. It is not used for other animals.

📖 Grammar Points

Used in the structure: Number + 匹 + Noun (e.g., 一匹马, 两匹骡子). It must directly follow the number and precede the animal noun. Cannot be omitted when specifying a quantity.

🏯 Cultural Notes

Horses have historical significance in Chinese culture for transportation, warfare, and agriculture, making 匹 a common character in classical and modern texts. The character itself originally depicted a bolt of cloth, but its use as a classifier for horses is ancient and fixed.

🔄 Similar Words

Other animal classifiers differ: 只 (zhī) is for general animals like cats and birds; 头 (tóu) is for large livestock like cows and pigs; 条 (tiáo) is for long, flexible animals like fish or snakes. 匹 is unique to equines.

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