 Chinese has a large number of nominal classifiers ; estimates of the number in Mandarin range from " several dozen " or " about 50 " , to over 900 . The range is so large because some of these estimates include all types of classifiers while others include only count @-@ classifiers , and because the idea of what constitutes a " classifier " has changed over time . Today , regular dictionaries include 120 to 150 classifiers ; the <unk> @-@ word <unk> of Graded Words and Characters for Chinese Proficiency ( Chinese : <unk> ; pinyin : <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> <unk> ) lists 81 ; and a 2009 list compiled by Gao Ming and Barbara Malt includes 126 . The number of classifiers that are in everyday , informal use , however , may be lower : linguist Mary <unk> has claimed that about two dozen " core classifiers " account for most classifier use . As a whole , though , the classifier system is so complex that specialized classifier dictionaries have been published . 
