<p>一本本子 is grammatically correct，but sounds weird，because of redundant.if we use  一本本子，it sounds like a stammer.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-31T09:17:44.767Z
2021-12-31T09:17:44.767Z
user30912
<p>Measure words are not restricted to be used on a certain object simply because certain words appear in it or form part of the object.</p>
<p>Though the word &quot;notebook&quot; has the word &quot;book&quot;, (书), in it, it is not a book as such but an &quot;article&quot; with which you perform certain tasks with, notably to make written entries.</p>
<p>Thus you don't buy a notebook to read, like a &quot;book&quot;, but to do something with it.</p>
<p>An analogy is the word 秘书, (secretary), which has the word 书 in it. You don't call a secretary 一本秘书 simply because the word 书 appears, but 一名秘书</p>
<p>Thus a notebook, 本子, is not functionally treated as a book, but an article for work performance, like any other article. Hence 一个本子</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-31T11:23:55.363Z
2021-12-31T13:37:16.860Z
2021-12-31T13:37:16.860Z
Wayne Cheah
<p>The answer of Wayne Cheah is correct.</p>
<p>I'd like to add a couple of references to Mainland's videos about 一个本子.</p>
<p><strong>Video 1.</strong> <a href="http://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/5ddf75c40000000001006b41" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Teacher says: 对了，<strong>一个本子</strong>。</a></p>
<p><strong>Video 2.</strong> <a href="https://baike.baidu.com/video?collectionId=0&amp;from=lemma&amp;fromPage=lemmaTop&amp;isSensitive=0&amp;lemmaId=2955414&amp;secondId=25042759" rel="nofollow noreferrer">这<strong>个本子</strong>挺可爱...</a> (in the title and ones in subtitles).</p>
<p>Besides, the measure word used at the following page is always <strong>个</strong>:</p>
<p><a href="https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%9C%AC%E5%AD%90/2955414" rel="nofollow noreferrer">本子_百度百科</a></p>
<p>And in the dictionary《现代汉语词典》the following example sentences can be found (it is never used the measure word 本):</p>
<ul>
<li>这<strong>两个本子</strong>都是宋本。(see 本子)</li>
<li>用纸订成<strong>一个本子</strong>。(see 订)</li>
<li>把<strong>一个本子</strong>上的文字抄写到另<strong>一个本子</strong>上。(see 过录)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-01T16:35:35.033Z
2022-01-01T18:01:13.723Z
2022-01-01T18:01:13.723Z
Joe at wearyourchinesename.com
<p>一本本子is correct. 一個本子sounds like what foreign born Chinese, who don't learn proper measure words, would use. Since 個 is a generic measure word, they tend to use it for everything, such as 一個房子,一個汽車,一個鋼琴, etc., instead of 一間(棟)房子,一部汽車,一架鋼琴.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-31T23:56:26.560Z
2021-12-31T23:56:26.560Z
joehua
<p>一本本子 is correct, and it is not weird in any way. However, it is preferred to say 一本筆記本子, 一本素描本子,..etc.</p>
<p>I don't want to criticize your learning material without knowing its context, but the correctness of 一個本子 is quite subjective (or objectionable), as 個 is not a common unit classifier for quantifying things like &quot;book(書)&quot;, &quot;paper(紙)&quot;, &quot;sheet(床單/被子/蚊帳)&quot;. So, avoid the use of 一個本子 <strong>if it refers to a booklet consisting of blank papers bound together (a notepad/notebook) that is for writing use</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>ADD:</strong></p>
<p>However, as noted by others, 一個本子 can be correct when the &quot;本子&quot; refers to 劇本(戲碼), &quot;playbook&quot;, a written book for &quot;play&quot;. For this case 一個本子 = 一個劇本 and 一本本子 = 一本劇本, all are correct. But again, 一個劇, 一個戲 are questionable, which shall be avoided.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-12-31T18:52:46.570Z
2022-01-01T20:29:44.013Z
2022-01-01T20:29:44.013Z
r13
<p>The word 本子 means &quot;notebook&quot;. So by analogy, it is deduced that the measure word for it, must be 本 just like 一本书</p>
<p>But in Chinese learning materials, I see this word coming with the measure word 个.</p>
<p>Is 一本本子 grammatically incorrect? Or it just sounds weird and abnormal?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-01T04:13:25.400Z
Perhaps for completeness, I should add that it is not "grammatically" wrong to say 一本本子. My answer primarily is to try and clear your query as to why your learning material uses 个 and not the customary one of 本. Your objective as a probationary learner, perhaps studying for some formal tests, is to confirm yourself to the learning material version which is prepared by people learned in the language. Out of the classroom, you are free to delve into some of the quirky nuances of the Chinese language which has fertile scope for imaginative wordplay, which you will soon learn as you progress.
Wayne Cheah
CC BY-SA 4.0
2022-01-01T04:32:39.900Z
I meant to say "... to confine yourself...."
Wayne Cheah
<grammar><measure-word>
The measure word for 本子: 一个本子 or 一本本子
# The measure word for 本子: 一个本子 or 一本本子

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-12-31)

The word 本子 means "notebook". So by analogy, it is deduced that the measure word for it, must be 本 just like 一本书

But in Chinese learning materials, I see this word coming with the measure word 个.

Is 一本本子 grammatically incorrect? Or it just sounds weird and abnormal?

**Tags:** grammar, measure-word
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Perhaps for completeness, I should add that it is not "grammatically" wrong to say 一本本子. My answer primarily is to try and clear your query as to why your learning material uses 个 and not the customary one of 本. Your objective as a probationary learner, perhaps studying for some formal tests, is to confirm yourself to the learning material version which is prepared by people learned in the language. Out of the classroom, you are free to delve into some of the quirky nuances of the Chinese language which has fertile scope for imaginative wordplay, which you will soon learn as you progress.  
> **username_1**: I meant to say "... to confine yourself...."  

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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2021-12-31. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

一本本子 is grammatically correct，but sounds weird，because of redundant.if we use 一本本子，it sounds like a stammer.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2021-12-31. Score: 3

Measure words are not restricted to be used on a certain object simply because certain words appear in it or form part of the object.

Though the word "notebook" has the word "book", (书), in it, it is not a book as such but an "article" with which you perform certain tasks with, notably to make written entries.

Thus you don't buy a notebook to read, like a "book", but to do something with it.

An analogy is the word 秘书, (secretary), which has the word 书 in it. You don't call a secretary 一本秘书 simply because the word 书 appears, but 一名秘书

Thus a notebook, 本子, is not functionally treated as a book, but an article for work performance, like any other article. Hence 一个本子


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### Answer by username_3 on 2022-01-01. Score: 1

The answer of Wayne Cheah is correct.

I'd like to add a couple of references to Mainland's videos about 一个本子.

**Video 1.** [Teacher says: 对了，**一个本子**。](http://www.xiaohongshu.com/discovery/item/5ddf75c40000000001006b41)

**Video 2.** [这**个本子**挺可爱...](https://baike.baidu.com/video?collectionId=0&from=lemma&fromPage=lemmaTop&isSensitive=0&lemmaId=2955414&secondId=25042759) (in the title and ones in subtitles).

Besides, the measure word used at the following page is always **个**:

[本子\_百度百科](https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E6%9C%AC%E5%AD%90/2955414)

And in the dictionary《现代汉语词典》the following example sentences can be found (it is never used the measure word 本):

* 这**两个本子**都是宋本。(see 本子)
* 用纸订成**一个本子**。(see 订)
* 把**一个本子**上的文字抄写到另**一个本子**上。(see 过录)


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### Answer by username_4 on 2021-12-31. Score: -1

一本本子is correct. 一個本子sounds like what foreign born Chinese, who don't learn proper measure words, would use. Since 個 is a generic measure word, they tend to use it for everything, such as 一個房子,一個汽車,一個鋼琴, etc., instead of 一間(棟)房子,一部汽車,一架鋼琴.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2021-12-31. Score: -1

一本本子 is correct, and it is not weird in any way. However, it is preferred to say 一本筆記本子, 一本素描本子,..etc.

I don't want to criticize your learning material without knowing its context, but the correctness of 一個本子 is quite subjective (or objectionable), as 個 is not a common unit classifier for quantifying things like "book(書)", "paper(紙)", "sheet(床單/被子/蚊帳)". So, avoid the use of 一個本子 **if it refers to a booklet consisting of blank papers bound together (a notepad/notebook) that is for writing use**.

**ADD:**

However, as noted by others, 一個本子 can be correct when the "本子" refers to 劇本(戲碼), "playbook", a written book for "play". For this case 一個本子 = 一個劇本 and 一本本子 = 一本劇本, all are correct. But again, 一個劇, 一個戲 are questionable, which shall be avoided.


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