個

Glyph origin

Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, 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”).

Southern Min classifier and possessive particle

Hokkien ê/gê (classifier), ê (possessive particle), Teochew gai5 (classifier), gai7 (possessive particle): from 其 (OC *ɡɯ) (Li, 2002; Douglas, 1873^[1]). Cognate with Eastern Min 其 (gì, possessive particle), Northern Min 的 (gâ̤, possessive particle). The modern forms of these cognates all derive from the 陽平／阳平 (yángpíng) tone.

Wu classifier and possessive particle

Though the expected pronunciation (in for instance Shanghainese) would be /ku/, this has undergone 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

1. 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

2. height; build; stature

   個子／个子  ―  gèzi  ―  height; stature

   個兒／个儿  ―  gèr  ―  size

3. (dialectal Hakka, dialectal Min, dialectal Wu) one
4. 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。 [MSC, trad.]
   我有一个问题。 [MSC, simp.]

   Wǒ yǒu yī gè wèntí. [Pinyin]

   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.]
   住响你屋企个陈先生系边度人嚟㗎？ [Guangzhou Cantonese, simp.]

   zyu⁶ hoeng² nei⁵ uk¹ kei² go³ can⁴ sin¹ saang¹ hai⁶ bin¹ dou⁶ jan⁴ lai⁴ gaa³? [Jyutping]

   Where is that Mr. Chan who lives at your house from?

5. 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

6. 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 fong^4-2 [Jyutping]  ―  a room

7. (Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew, Puxian Min, Wenzhounese) 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.]
   个半十只柠檬 [Cantonese, simp.]

   go³ bun³ sap⁶ zek³ ning⁴ mung^4-1 [Jyutping]

   ten lemons for a dollar and a half

   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

8. (Cantonese, slang) Classifier for money: ten thousand yuan, dollars, etc.

   Synonym: 粒

   佢爭人十個。 [Cantonese, trad.]
   佢争人十个。 [Cantonese, simp.]

   keoi⁵ caang¹ jan⁴ sap⁶ go³. [Jyutping]

   He owes them a hundred grand.

9. (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.]
   他一下跑个两三公里都不在话下。 [MSC, simp.]

   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.

   他們倆就差個一兩歲。 [MSC, trad.]
   他们俩就差个一两岁。 [MSC, simp.]

   Tāmen liǎ jiù chà gè yī liǎng suì. [Pinyin]

   The age difference between them is only about one or two years.

10. (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.]
    吃个饭，洗个澡，休息休息 [MSC, simp.]

    chī gè fàn, xǐ ge zǎo, xiūxi xiūxi [Pinyin]

    have a meal, take a shower and have some rest

    我們昨天見了個面，聊了聊近況。 [MSC, trad.]
    我们昨天见了个面，聊了聊近况。 [MSC, simp.]

    Wǒmen zuótiān jiàn le gè miàn, liáo le liáo jìnkuàng. [Pinyin]

    We met yesterday, and chatted about how we've been recently.

11. (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.]
    那些个年的事现在回忆起来还是记忆犹新。 [MSC, simp.]

    Nàxiēgè nián de shì xiànzài huíyì qǐlái háishì jìyìyóuxīn. [Pinyin]

    It feels like yesterday when I reminisce about those stories in the past.

12. 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

13. (dialectal Mandarin) Particle used in some time-related words.

    今兒個／今儿个  ―  jīnrge  ―  (dialectal) today

14. (literary or Wu, Xiang, Gan, dialectal Cantonese, dialectal Min) (= 搿 (Northern Wu)) this; that

    個個人／个个人 [Shanghainese]  ―  ⁸geq-gheq ⁶gnin [Wugniu]  ―  this person

    個隻鴨子勿大酥 [Shanghainese, trad.]
    个只鸭子勿大酥 [Shanghainese, simp.]

    ⁸geq-tsaq ⁷aq-tsy ⁶veq₈-da-su [Wugniu]

    This duck hasn't been cooked long enough for it to become tender.

15. (dialectal Cantonese, Hakka, Southern Min, Wu) Possessive particle. Equivalent to Mandarin 的 (de).

    → 嘅 (ge3) (Cantonese); 格 (kaq), 額／额 (gheq) (Shanghainese) (Mandarin influenced); 噶, 葛 (Suzhounese); 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]  ―  ⁶ngu-gheq ⁵shiau-noe [Wugniu]  ―  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

16. (dialectal) Sentence-final declarative, affirmative, or prohibitive particle. Equivalent to Mandarin 的 (de), 了 (le).

    標語勿是我寫個。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
    标语勿是我写个。 [Shanghainese, simp.]

    ¹piau-gniu ⁸veq-zy ⁶ngu ⁵shia-gheq [Wugniu]

    I didn't write that slogan.

    事體老妖個。 [Shanghainese, trad.]
    事体老妖个。 [Shanghainese, simp.]

    From: 2011, Hu Baotan, 弄堂

    ⁶zy-thi ⁶lau ¹iau ⁰gheq [Wugniu]

    It's quite an odd happenstance.

    1. (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 usage example)

17. (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。 [Cantonese, trad.]
    佢个人好懒。 [Cantonese, simp.]

    keoi⁵ go³ jan⁴ hou² laan⁵. [Jyutping]

    He/she is such a sluggard.

18. (Teochew) to be

    我個學生，我個生日個十月三號。 [Teochew, trad.]
    我个学生，我个生日个十月三号。 [Teochew, simp.]

    ua² gai⁵ hag⁸ sêng¹, ua² gai⁷ sên¹ rig⁸ gai⁵ zab⁸ ghuêh⁸ san¹ ho⁷. [Peng'im]

    I am a student. My birthday is 3rd October.

    關西個日本個，關中是陝西。 [Teochew, trad.]
    关西个日本个，关中是陕西。 [Teochew, simp.]

    From: Forvo

    guang¹ sai¹ gai⁵ rig⁸ bung² gai⁷, guang¹ dong¹ si⁶ siam² sai¹. [Peng'im]

    Kansai ("west of the pass") is in Japan; Guanzhong ("within the pass") is in Shaanxi.

    • 我個潮州來個。 [Teochew, trad.]
      我个潮州来个。 [Teochew, simp.]

      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.)

19. (dated Shanghainese) 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.]
    我伲一直替㑚一家人家交易，勿到别人家去个。 [Shanghainese, simp.]

    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.

20. (Cantonese) This term needs a translation to English. Please help out and add a translation, then remove the text {{rfdef}}.
    • 2022, “全身想旅行 [cyun4 san1 soeng2 leoi5 hang4]”, 林日曦 [lam4 jat6 hei1, Roy Tsui] (lyrics)‎performed by 黎明 [lai4 ming4, Leon Lai]:

      個赤鱲角真闊　冇晒人飛 [Cantonese, trad.]
      个赤𫚭角真阔　冇晒人飞 [Cantonese, simp.]

      go³ cek³ laap⁶ gok³ zan¹ fut³, mou⁵ saai³ jan⁴ fei¹ [Jyutping]

      (please add an English translation of this quotation)