个 ɡè - measure word

个 ɡè, one of the frequently used measure words

一个 [yī ɡè], one
used for nouns that do not have specific measure words

一个打火机 [dǎ huǒ jī] a lighter

一个盒子 [hé zi] a box

一个湖泊 [hú pō] a lake

一个鸡蛋 [jī dàn] an egg

一个脚址 [jiǎo zhǐ] a toe

一个酒杯 [jiǔ bēi] a wine glass

一个门把手[mén bǎ shou] a doorknob

一个脑袋 [nǎo dài] a head

一个盘子 [pán zi] a plate or dish

一个乒乓球 [pīnɡ pānɡ qiú] a table tennis ball

一个苹果 [pínɡ ɡuǒ] an apple

一个手指头 [shóu zhǐ tou] a finger

一个书包 [shū bāo] a school bag or backpack

一个土豆 [tǔ dòu] a potato

一个西瓜 [xī ɡuā] a watermelon

一个指甲刀 [zhī jiɑ dāo] a pair of fingernail clippers

一个报告 [bào ɡào] a report

一个成绩 [chénɡ jì] an achievement

一个委员会 [wěi yuán huì] a committee

一个班 [bān] a class or squad

一个国家 [ɡuó jiā] a country

一个家庭 [jiā tínɡ] a family

一个人 [rén] a person

一个儿子 [ér zi] a son

一个女儿 [nǚ ér] a daughter

一个孩子 [hái zi] a child

一个孙子 [sūn zi] a grandson

一个旅游团 [lǚ yóu tuán] a tourist group

一个足球队 [zú qiú duì] a soccer team

一个梦 [mènɡ] a dream

一个想法 [xiǎnɡ fǎ] an idea

一个惊奇 [jīnɡ qí] a surprise

一个好主意 [hǎo zhǔ yi] a good idea

一个愿望 [yuàn wànɡ] a wish or aspiration

一个决定 [jué dìnɡ] a decision

—个 [yī ɡè] can be used before almost every kind of noun and is the most commonly used of all Chinese measure words. The word 个 [ge] is used most often before persons, institutions, and objects that do not have other specific measure words.

Though 一个 [yī ɡè], 一名 [yī mínɡ] and 一位 [yī wèi] all mean "one person" they convey nuances of attitudes of the persons who use them. 一个 [yī ɡè] is less formal than 一名 [yī mínɡ], which is in turn less respectful than 一位 [yī wèi].