条 (tiáo) — measure word for long, flexible things

条 (tiáo)

A measure word used for long, narrow, or flexible objects and for certain categories of things like trousers, fish, rivers, and roads. 条 captures the idea of something elongated or strip-like.

Meanings

1. [measure word] Classifier for long, narrow, or flexible objects.
2. [noun] Strip, piece, item. Used in compound words like 面条 (noodles).

What 条 counts

条 is used with:

• 鱼 (yú): fish — 一条鱼 (one fish)
• 裤子 (kùzi): trousers — 一条裤子 (one pair of trousers)
• 路 (lù): road — 一条路 (one road)
• 河 (hé): river — 一条河 (one river)
• 消息 (xiāoxi): news/message — 一条消息 (one piece of news)

Example Sentences

我买了一条鱼。 Wǒ mǎile yī tiáo yú. I bought a fish.

他穿了一条新裤子。 Tā chuānle yī tiáo xīn kùzi. He is wearing a new pair of trousers.

这条路很长。 Zhè tiáo lù hěn cháng. This road is very long.

前面有一条河。 Qiánmiàn yǒu yī tiáo hé. There is a river ahead.

Collocations

Common Learner Mistake

Use 条 for trousers and fish, not 件 or 个. A very common error is saying 一件裤子 (wrong) instead of 一条裤子 (correct). The logic is that trousers are long with two leg "strips," fitting the 条 category.