📗 Beginner — frequent in early HSK exams
Meaning
Classifier for long, thin things — fish, snakes, roads, and some abstract items like news.
🏮 Cultural Story
中文 Chinese
太形象了！长的细的东西都用"条"：鱼、路、河、裤子、新闻……新闻也有形状？传统报纸像一条条文字排列的。抽象事物也用："一条命"(life)、"一条心"(united)、"一条龙服务"(one-stop service)。中国文化中"条"代表从起点到终点的连续性。
English
**条 (tiáo)** is so visual! Long and thin: fish, road, river, pants, news... Even abstract: "一条命" (a life), "一条心" (united). Represents continuity from start to end.
💡 Memory Tip
If it's long and thin — fish, road, river, pants — 条 is your word!
Examples
Common Nouns Used With
Video Examples
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YouGlish
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Classifier for long, thin things — fish, snakes, roads, and some abstract items like news.