The following rules should be observed.
(1) Usually several nouns have the same classifier, as 架 ka, the classifier of bedsteads, closets, clocks, ladders, etc., 粒 lak, the classifier of stars, beads, buttons, scars, grains, fruits, etc.
(2) When the same vocal sound is used as the name of different objects, their different classifiers distinguish them to the ear of the listener, as 椆一架 tiu sioh ka, one closet, 綢一疋 tiu sioh p‘ek, one piece of silk-goods. The same terms, written in Chinese characters, are of course plainly distinguished by the different characters for closet and silk-goods.
(3) The numeral and classifier are placed–
Sometimes before the noun.
- 二把轎 lang pa kieu two sedans.
Sometimes after the noun.
- 轎二把 kieu lang pa, sedans-two, i.e., two sedans.
And usually after a verb in the imperative mood.
- 剪刀仔去買三把 ka tó kiāng k‘ó má sang pa, scissors-go-buy-three-pairs, i.e., go and buy three pairs of scissors.
(4) The general rule is that every noun, preceded by a numeral, has its appropriate classifier or numerative.
To this there are some exceptions, as
(a) In some collective nouns, which are also used as classifiers.
- 一羣 sioh kung, one flock.
- 二主 lang chio, two families.
(b) In some nouns designating fixed sets or numbers.
- 八營 paik yăng, the eight camps.
- 八卦 paik kwa the eight diagrams.
- 三國 sang kwok, The Three States.
(c) In nouns referring to some division of time.
- 三日 sang nik three days.
- 八年 paik niéng, eight years.
- 二工 lang këng, two (days') work.
(d) In the following and similar instances. These, however, are only partial exceptions to the general rule, as the classifier may be optionally omitted or retained.
