Mandarin Chinese Classifier Lexicon

@cite{aikhenvald-2000}

Typed classifier entries for Mandarin Chinese, replacing unstructured string representations with semantically annotated ClassifierEntry values.

Mandarin has a large numeral classifier system (~100+ classifiers in common use). This fragment covers the classifiers attested in the noun lexicon.

Classifier selection

Classifier selection in Mandarin is semantically motivated (@cite{aikhenvald-2000} §11.2.3). Sortal classifiers encode inherent properties (animacy, shape, function); the general classifier 个 serves as a default/residue.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ge : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

个 gè — general/default classifier. Semantically bleached; used when no specific classifier applies, or as an informal substitute.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ge = { form := "个", gloss := "general", isDefault := true }

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.zhi : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

只 zhī — small animals (birds, cats, dogs, insects). Encodes: animacy + small size.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.zhi = { form := "只", gloss := "small.animal", semantics := [Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.animacy, Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.size] }

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ben : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

本 běn — bound volumes (books, magazines, notebooks). Encodes: shape (flat, bound objects).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.liang : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

辆 liàng — wheeled vehicles (cars, bicycles, carts). Encodes: function (transport).

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.liang = { form := "辆", gloss := "vehicle", semantics := [Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.function] }

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.duo : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

朵 duǒ — flowers, clouds (small, delicate, clustered). Encodes: shape (small, round/clustered).

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.duo = { form := "朵", gloss := "flower/cloud", semantics := [Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.shape, Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.size] }

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.wei : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

位 wèi — persons (honorific/polite register). Encodes: humanness + social status.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.tiao : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

条 tiáo — long, thin, flexible objects (rivers, roads, snakes, fish). Encodes: shape (1D, elongated).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.zhang : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

张 zhāng — flat objects with a surface (paper, tables, beds, maps). Encodes: shape (2D, flat surface).

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ba : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

把 bǎ — objects with a handle (knives, chairs, umbrellas). Encodes: shape (graspable handle) + function.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ba = { form := "把", gloss := "handled", semantics := [Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.shape, Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.function] }

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.tou : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

头 tóu — large animals (cattle, elephants, pigs). Encodes: animacy + large size.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.tou = { form := "头", gloss := "large.animal", semantics := [Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.animacy, Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.size] }

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ke : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

棵 kē — plants, trees (rooted, standing). Encodes: shape (upright, rooted).

Equations

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def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.sortalClassifiers : List Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.defaultClassifier : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.defaultClassifier = Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ge

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.bei : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

杯 bēi — glasses, cups.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ping : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

瓶 píng — bottles.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.wan : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

碗 wǎn — bowls.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.xiang : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

箱 xiāng — boxes.

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.containerClassifiers : List Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• One or more equations did not get rendered due to their size.

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.allClassifiers : List Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.allClassifiers = Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.sortalClassifiers ++ Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.containerClassifiers

def Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.lookup (form : String) : Option Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry

Look up a classifier by form.

Equations

• Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.lookup form = List.find? (fun (x : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => x.form == form) Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.allClassifiers

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ge_is_default : ge.isDefault = true

个 is the default classifier.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.zhi_encodes_animacy : zhi.encodes Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.animacy = true

只 encodes animacy.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.wei_encodes_humanness : wei.encodes Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.humanness = true

位 encodes humanness.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.ben_encodes_shape : ben.encodes Core.NounCategorization.SemanticParameter.shape = true

本 encodes shape.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.specific_classifiers_have_semantics : ((List.filter (fun (x : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => !x.isDefault) allClassifiers).all fun (x : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => decide (x.semantics.length > 0)) = true

All non-default classifiers have at least one semantic parameter.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.sortal_classifiers_not_mensural : (sortalClassifiers.all fun (x : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => !x.isMensural) = true

Sortal classifiers are not mensural.

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.bei_is_mensural : bei.isMensural = true

Container classifiers CAN be mensural (structure determines reading).

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.container_classifiers_are_mensural : (containerClassifiers.all fun (x : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => x.isMensural) = true

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.container_classifiers_have_semantics : (containerClassifiers.all fun (x : Core.NounCategorization.ClassifierEntry) => decide (x.semantics.length > 0)) = true

theorem Fragments.Mandarin.Classifiers.inventory_size : allClassifiers.length = 15

Full inventory: 11 sortal + 4 container = 15 classifiers.