Lesson 60 Penjodoh bilangan (Numerical coefficient/classifier)

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A second reading (by Muhammad Nor Ismat, a native speaker)

seorang anak dua orang bini sebuah rumah tiga buah kereta seekor anjing

one child two wives one house three cars one dog

empat ekor kucing enam biji telur tiga biji durian sepuluh batang rokok dua pucuk surat

four cats six eggs three durians ten cigarettes two letters

Enam ekor kucing (= 6 cats)

The use of numerical coefficients can be summarized as follows:
orang is used for people. The word itself means "person, people".
ekor is used for animals. The word itself means "tail".
buah is used for most objects eg. books, tables, cars, houses, schools. The word itself means "fruit".
biji is used for small, round objects such as eggs, sweets and fruits. The word itself means "seed".
batang is used for long, slim items such as pencils, pens, or sticks.
keping is used for a piece/pieces of paper, bread, cake, cheques, photographs.
pucuk is used for letters and arms.