Usage of 匹
The character 匹 is primarily used as a measure word for animals, especially horses, cows, and other livestock. It counts individual animals and is equivalent to 'head' or 'animal' in English. For example, 一匹马 means 'one horse.'
Common Collocations
- 一匹马 (one horse): the most typical use.
- 几匹牛 (several cows): used to count cattle.
- 一匹布 (a bolt of cloth): less common but used in some dialects or contexts to measure cloth.
Notes
匹 is not used for all animals; for example, dogs and cats are usually counted with 只. 匹 is more formal and often used in farming or traditional contexts. Avoid confusing 匹 with other measure words like 头 (tóu), which also counts large animals but is more common for pigs or cattle in some regions.
When using 匹, the noun it modifies is usually an animal or sometimes cloth, so pay attention to context to avoid mistakes.