個
See also: 个
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Translingual
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Han character
個 (Kangxi radical 9, 人+8, 10 strokes, cangjie input 人田十口 (OWJR), four-corner 26200, composition ⿰亻固)
Derived characters
- 嗰(𠮶), 𬚅
References
- KangXi: page 107, character 17
- Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 758
- Dae Jaweon: page 228, character 2
- Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 178, character 3
- Unihan data for U+500B
Chinese
| trad. | 個/箇 | |
|---|---|---|
| simp. | 个 | |
Glyph origin
Characters in the same phonetic series (古) (Zhengzhang, 2003)
| Old Chinese | |
|---|---|
| 箇 | *kaːls |
| 個 | *kaːls |
| 居 | *kɯ, *kas |
| 橭 | *kaː, *kʰaː |
| 嫴 | *kaː |
| 姑 | *kaː |
| 辜 | *kaː |
| 酤 | *kaː, *kaːs, *ɡaːʔ |
| 蛄 | *kaː |
| 鴣 | *kaː |
| 沽 | *kaː, *kaːʔ, *kaːs |
| 盬 | *kaː, *kaːʔ |
| 古 | *kaːʔ |
| 罟 | *kaːʔ |
| 估 | *kaːʔ |
| 鈷 | *kaːʔ |
| 詁 | *kaːʔ |
| 牯 | *kaːʔ |
| 故 | *kaːs |
| 固 | *kaːs |
| 稒 | *kaːɡs |
| 痼 | *kaːɡs |
| 錮 | *kaːɡs |
| 鯝 | *kaːɡs |
| 棝 | *kaːɡs |
| 凅 | *kaːɡs |
| 枯 | *kʰaː |
| 軲 | *kʰaː |
| 跍 | *kʰaː |
| 骷 | *kʰaː |
| 苦 | *kʰaːʔ, *kʰaːs |
| 葫 | *qʰaː, *ɡaː |
| 餬 | *ɡaː |
| 瑚 | *ɡaː |
| 湖 | *ɡaː |
| 鶘 | *ɡaː |
| 猢 | *ɡaː |
| 醐 | *ɡaː |
| 糊 | *ɡaː |
| 箶 | *ɡaː |
| 蝴 | *ɡaː |
| 胡 | *ɡaː |
| 瓳 | *ɡaː |
| 怙 | *ɡaːʔ |
| 祜 | *ɡaːʔ |
| 岵 | *ɡaːʔ |
| 婟 | *ɡaːʔ, *ɡaːɡs |
| 楛 | *ɡaːʔ |
| 据 | *ka |
| 裾 | *ka |
| 琚 | *ka |
| 椐 | *ka, *kas, *kʰa |
| 鶋 | *ka |
| 蜛 | *ka |
| 崌 | *ka |
| 涺 | *ka |
| 腒 | *ka, *ɡa |
| 鋸 | *kas |
| 倨 | *kas |
| 踞 | *kas |
| 涸 | *ɡaːɡ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲, OC *kaːls) : semantic 亻 (“person”) + phonetic 固 (OC *kaːs).
Etymology
The semantics may have developed along the grammaticalisation process "bamboo stalk" (箇) > "piece, item" > "classifier for every category of noun" > "possessive particle, generic particle". If so, it would then possibly be cognate with 竿 (OC *kaːn, “bamboo, rod”). Compare Tibetan མཁར་བ (mkhar ba), འཁར་བ ('khar ba, “walking stick, staff”) and Thai ก้าน (gâan, “stem, stalk”).
- Min Nan classifier and possessive particle
- Hokkien ê/gê (classifier), ê (possessive particle), Teochew gai5 (classifier), gai7 (possessive particle): from 其 (OC *ɡɯ) (Li, 2002; Douglas, 1899[1]). Cognate with Min Dong 其 (gì, “possessive particle”), Min Bei 的 (gâ̤, “possessive particle”). The modern forms of these cognates all derive from the 陽平／阳平 (“yangping”) tone.
- Wu classifier and possessive particle
- Though the expected pronunciation (in for instance Shanghainese) would be /ku/, this has underwent glottalisation (Dai, 2004). Compare 勒 (“to be in, to be at”), 搭 (“to”). In Shanghainese, this often undergoes further lenition to /ɦəʔ/.
Pronunciation
Definitions
個
- single; alone; individual
- 個人／个人 ― gèrén ― an individual; personal
- 個體／个体 ― gètǐ ― individuality
- 個別／个别 ― gèbié ― individual; separate; some; a couple of
- height; build; stature
- 個子／个子 ― gèzi ― height; stature
- 個兒／个儿 ― gèr ― size
- (dialectal Hakka, dialectal Min, dialectal Wu) one
- The generic classifier for people or for things lacking specific classifiers.
- 一個人／一个人 ― yī gè rén ― one person
- 每個人／每个人 ― měi gè rén ― every person; everyone
- 我有一個問題。／我有一个问题。 ― Wǒ yǒu yī gè wèntí. ― I have a question.
- 兩個人／两个人 [Taiwanese Hokkien] ― nn̄g ê lâng [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― two people
- 住響你屋企個陳先生係邊度人嚟㗎？ [Guangzhou Cantonese, trad.]
- zyu6 hoeng2 nei5 uk1 kei5 go3 can4 sin1 saang1 hai6 bin1 dou6 jan4 lai4 gaa3? [Jyutping]
- Where is that Mr. Chan who lives at your house from?
住响你屋企个陈先生系边度人嚟㗎？ [Guangzhou Cantonese, simp.]
- Classifier for hours and months.
- 一個鐘頭／一个钟头 ― yī gè zhōngtóu ― one hour
- 九個月／九个月 ― jiǔ gè yuè ― nine months
- 三個月／三个月 [Taiwanese Hokkien] ― saⁿ kò goe̍h [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― three months
- Alternative classifier, for nouns having specific classifiers. Often colloquial and regional. Usage varies greatly between different topolects.
- 一個學校／一个学校 ― yī gè xuéxiào ― one school
- 一個井／一个井 [Guangzhou Cantonese] ― jat1 go3 zeng2 [Jyutping] ― a well
- 一個房／一个房 [Guangzhou Cantonese] ― jat1 go3 fong4-2 [Jyutping] ― a room
- (Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew, Puxian Min, Wenzhou Wu) Classifier for money: yuan, dollar; buck
- 三個九毫九／三个九毫九 [Cantonese] ― saam1 go3 gau2 hou4 gau2 [Jyutping] ― three dollars and ninety-nine cents
- 八個六／八个六 [Cantonese] ― baat3 go3 luk6 [Jyutping] ― eight dollars and sixty cents
- 個半十隻檸檬 [Cantonese, trad.]
- go3 bun3 sap6 zek3 ning4 mung4-1 [Jyutping]
- ten lemons for a dollar and a half
个半十只柠檬 [Cantonese, simp.]- 三個銀／三个银 [Sixian Hakka] ― sâm ke ngiùn [Pha̍k-fa-sṳ] ― three dollars
- 兩斤五個／两斤五个 [Teochew] ― no6 geng1 ngou6 gai5 [Peng'im] ― two catties for five dollars
- 個銀三粒／个银三粒 [Teochew] ― gai5 ngeng5 san1 liab8 [Peng'im] ― three for a buck
- (Cantonese, slang) Classifier for money: ten thousand yuan, dollars, etc.
- Synonym: 粒
- 佢爭人十個。／佢争人十个。 [Cantonese] ― keoi5 caang1 jan4 sap6 go3. [Jyutping] ― He owes them a hundred grand.
- (Mandarin, colloquial) Particle, placed between a verb and numbers, showing that the following numbers are approximate, not accurate.
- 他一下跑個兩三公里都不在話下。 [MSC, trad.]
- Tā yīxià pǎo gè liǎng sān gōnglǐ dōu bùzàihuàxià. [Pinyin]
- Running two or three kilometers in one go is a piece of cake for him.
他一下跑个两三公里都不在话下。 [MSC, simp.]- 他們倆就差個一兩歲。 [MSC, trad.]
- Tāmen liǎ jiù chà gè yī liǎng suì. [Pinyin]
- The age difference between them is only about one or two years.
他们俩就差个一两岁。 [MSC, simp.]
- (Mandarin, Cantonese, colloquial) Particle, placed between a verb and its object or complement, adding a sense of ease, swiftness and one-offness to the action.
- 吃個飯，洗個澡，休息休息 [MSC, trad.]
- chī gè fàn, xǐ ge zǎo, xiūxi xiūxi [Pinyin]
- have a meal, take a shower and have some rest
吃个饭，洗个澡，休息休息 [MSC, simp.]- 我們昨天見了個面，聊了聊近況。 [MSC, trad.]
- Wǒmen zuótiān jiàn le gè miàn, liáo le liáo jìnkuàng. [Pinyin]
- We met yesterday, and chatted about how we've been recently.
我们昨天见了个面，聊了聊近况。 [MSC, simp.]
- (Mandarin, colloquial) Particle used after 些 (xiē).
- 那些個年的事現在回憶起來還是記憶猶新。 [MSC, trad.]
- Nàxiēgè nián de shì xiànzài huíyì qǐlái háishì jìyìyóuxīn. [Pinyin]
- It feels like yesterday when I reminisce about those stories in the past.
那些个年的事现在回忆起来还是记忆犹新。 [MSC, simp.]
- Particle between a verb and its complement.
- 吃個夠／吃个够 ― chī ge gòu ― to eat enough
- 忙個不停／忙个不停 ― máng ge bùtíng ― to be as busy as a bee
- 唱個痛快／唱个痛快 ― chàng ge tòngkuài ― to sing to one’s heart’s content
- (dialectal Mandarin) Particle used in some time-related words.
- 今兒個／今儿个 ― jīnrge ― (dialectal) today
- (literary or Wu, Xiang, Gan, dialectal Cantonese, dialectal Min) (= 搿 (Shanghainese)) this; that
- 個個人／个个人 [Shanghainese] ― [ɡ̊əʔ¹¹ ɦəʔ³³ n̠ʲɪɲ²³] [IPA] ― this person
- 個隻鴨子勿大酥 [Shanghainese, trad.]
- [ɡ̊əʔ¹¹ t͡sa̱ʔ³³ a̱ʔ³³ t͡sz̩⁴⁴ v̥əʔ¹¹ d̥a̱³³ sv̩ʷ⁵³] [IPA]
- This duck hasn't been cooked long enough for it to become tender.
个只鸭子勿大酥 [Shanghainese, simp.]
- (Cantonese, Wu) Word-initial particle, serving as the definite article.
- 個人今朝為啥勿來？ [Shanghainese, trad.]
- [ɦəʔ¹¹ n̠ʲɪɲ²³ t͡ɕɪɲ⁵⁵ z̥ɔ²¹ ɯe̞³³ sa̱⁴⁴ v̥əʔ¹¹ le̞²³] [IPA]
- Why hasn't that guy come today?
个人今朝为啥勿来？ [Shanghainese, simp.]
- (dialectal Cantonese, Hakka, Min Nan, Wu) Possessive particle. Equivalent to Mandarin 的 (de).
- → 嘅 (ge3) (Cantonese); 格 (kaq), 額／额 (gheq) (Wu) (Mandarin influenced); 的 (ê) (Hokkien)
- 我個冊／我个册 [Hokkien] ― góa ê chheh [Pe̍h-ōe-jī] ― my book
- 我個書／我个书 [Teochew] ― ua2 gai7 ze1 [Peng'im] ― my book
- 我個小囡／我个小囡 [Shanghainese] ― [ŋv̩ʷ²³ ɦəʔ¹² ɕiɔ³³ nø⁴⁴] [IPA] ― my child
- 客家個精神／客家个精神 [Sixian Hakka] ― hak-kâ ke chîn-sṳ̀n [Pha̍k-fa-sṳ] ― the Hakka spirit
- (dialectal) Sentence-final declarative, affirmative, or prohibitive particle. Equivalent to Mandarin 的 (de), 了 (le).
- 標語勿是我寫個。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
- [piɔ⁵⁵ n̠ʲy²¹ v̥əʔ¹¹ z̥z̩²³ ŋv̩ʷ²³ ɕia̱³⁴ ɦəʔ¹²] [IPA]
- I didn't write that slogan.
标语勿是我写个。 [Shanghainese, simp.]- 事體老妖個。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
- From: 2011, Hu Baotan, 弄堂
- [z̥z̩²² tʰi⁴⁴ lɔ³³ iɔ⁵⁵ ɦəʔ²¹] [IPA]
- It's quite an odd happenstance.
事体老妖个。 [Shanghainese, simp.]
- (Cantonese, pronunciation spelling) Vowel harmony form of 嘅 (ge3, “emphasis particle used at the end of declarative sentences”), pronounced as 個／个 (go3) when followed by sentence final particles with vowel o, such as 喎／㖞 (wo3).
- 係噉個喎／系噉个㖞 [Cantonese] ― hai6 gam2 go3 wo3 [Jyutping] ― (please add an English translation of this example)
- (often dialectal) Emphatic particle between a pronoun and a noun, usually to highlight some negative quality of the person.
- 你個笨蛋！／你个笨蛋！ ― Nǐ gè bèndàn! ― You idiot!
- 佢個人好懶。／佢个人好懒。 [Cantonese] ― keoi5 go3 jan4 hou2 laan5. [Jyutping] ― He/she is such a sluggard.
- (Teochew) to be
- 我個學生，我個生日個十月三號。 [Teochew, trad.]
- ua2 gai5 hag8 sêng1, ua2 gai7 sên1 rig8 gai5 zab8 ghuêh8 san1 ho7. [Peng'im]
- I am a student. My birthday is 3rd October.
我个学生，我个生日个十月三号。 [Teochew, simp.]- 關西個日本個，關中是陝西。 [Teochew, trad.]
- From: Forvo
- guang1 sai1 gai5 rig8 bung2 gai7, guang dong1 si6 siam2 sai1. [Peng'im]
- Kansai ("west of the pass") is in Japan; Guanzhong ("within the pass") is in Shaanxi.
关西个日本个，关中是陕西。 [Teochew, simp.]
- 我個潮州來個。 [Teochew, trad.]
- From: Based on 2011, Hui Ling Xu; Stephen Matthews, On the polyfunctionality and grammaticalization of the morpheme kai in the Chaozhou dialect, in Foong Ha Yap; Karen Grunow-Hårsta; Janick Wrona (eds.), Nominalization in Asian Languages: Diachronic and typological perspectives, page 121
- ua2 gai5 dio5 ziu1 lai5 gai7 [Peng'im]
- I come from Chaozhou. (i.e., It is Chaozhou that I come from.)
我个潮州来个。 [Teochew, simp.]
- (dated Shanghainese Wu) Used to indicate the past tense.
- 我伲一直替㑚一家人家交易，勿到別人家去個。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
- From: 2010, Qian Nairong, 《從〈滬語便商〉所見的老上海話時態》 (Tenses and Aspects? Old Shanghainese as Found in the Book Huyu Bian Shang)
- We've been trading with your family, we haven't gone to any other families.
我伲一直替㑚一家人家交易，勿到别人家去个。 [Shanghainese, simp.]
Usage notes
- For Hokkien, Taiwan's Ministry of Education recommends 个 for the general classifier ê and 的 for the possessive particle ê, reserving 個 for the month classifier kò.
- For Hakka, Taiwan's Ministry of Education recommends 个 for the possessive particle.
- In Cantonese, when used for "yuan/dollar", 個 is usually only used when followed by cents.
- Northern Wu languages can mark for tenses, as well as aspects. In Old Shanghainese, this is used to mark the past tense, as opposed to a perfect aspect.
Synonyms
See 個/derived terms § Chinese.
Compounds
See 個/derived terms § Chinese.
Descendants
Sino-Xenic (個):
- → Japanese: 個 (ko)
- → Korean: 개(個) (gae)
- → Vietnamese: cá (個)
Others:
- Wutunhua: -ge
- →? Baba Malay: punya (semantic loan)
- →? Vietnamese: cái
References
- Douglas, Carstairs (1899), “dê”, in Chinese-English dictionary of the vernacular or spoken language of Amoy, London: Presbyterian Church of England, page 99
Japanese
Kanji
個
(grade 5 “Kyōiku” kanji)
Readings
- Go-on: か (ka)
- Kan-on: か (ka)
- Tō-on: こ (ko, Jōyō)
Counter
| Kanji in this term |
|---|
| 個 |
| こ Grade: 5 |
| tōon |
個 • (-ko)
- item, article, thing
- あの枝に桜ん坊が十二個だけあります。
- Ano eda ni sakuranbo ga jūni-ko dake arimasu.
- There are only twelve cherries on that branch.
- あの枝に桜ん坊が十二個だけあります。
Usage notes
This is one of the most common counter words in Japanese. It can be used to count small, round objects.
See also
See Template:ja-number-counter:個.
Korean
Hanja
個 (eumhun 낱 개 (nat gae))
- Hanja form? of 개 (“a piece”).
- Hanja form? of 개 (“a unit”).
- Hanja form? of 개 (“an item”).
Compounds
- 개인 (個人, gaein, “individual”)
Vietnamese
Han character
個: Hán Nôm readings: cá, cái
- generic classifier
References
- Nom Foundation