块 (kuài) — measure word for chunks and yuan

块 (kuài)

A measure word used for chunks, lumps, or pieces of things, and also the spoken form of the Chinese currency unit yuan (元). 块 is extremely common in everyday speech.

Meanings

1. [measure word] Classifier for chunks, pieces, or lumps of solid material.
2. [measure word] Spoken form of yuan (RMB currency unit). In speech, 块 replaces the formal 元.

What 块 counts

块 is used with:

• 西瓜 (xīguā): watermelon — 一块西瓜 (a piece of watermelon)
• 蛋糕 (dàngāo): cake — 一块蛋糕 (a piece of cake)
• 石头 (shítou): stone — 一块石头 (a stone/rock)
• 钱 (qián): money — 五块钱 (five yuan)
• 肥皂 (féizào): soap — 一块肥皂 (a bar of soap)

Example Sentences

请给我一块西瓜。 Qǐng gěi wǒ yī kuài xīguā. Please give me a piece of watermelon.

这件衣服五十块钱。 Zhè jiàn yīfu wǔshí kuài qián. This item of clothing costs fifty yuan.

他给了我一块蛋糕。 Tā gěile wǒ yī kuài dàngāo. He gave me a piece of cake.

这块石头很大。 Zhè kuài shítou hěn dà. This stone is very large.

Collocations

Common Learner Mistake

In spoken Chinese, prices are almost always stated using 块 rather than the formal 元. If a price sounds like "wǔshí kuài," that means fifty yuan. Learners sometimes miss this and wonder why 块 appears so often in money conversations.