Usage note
匹常作量词，尤其用于马、布等。
pǐ cháng zuò liàng cí， yóu qí yòng yú mǎ 、 bù děng。
匹 is a measure word, especially for horses and cloth.
Context note
匹在现代口语里不算最常见，但很重要。
pǐ zài xiàn dài kǒu yǔ lǐ bú suàn zuì cháng jiàn， dàn hěn zhòng yào。
It is not the most common in daily speech, but it is important.
5 examples
一匹马在草地上跑。
yì pǐ mǎ zài cǎo dì shàng pǎo。
A horse is running on the grass.
他买了一匹布。
tā mǎi le yì pǐ bù。
He bought a bolt of cloth.
那匹马很快。
nà pǐ mǎ hěn kuài。
That horse is very fast.
两匹马一起走。
liǎng pǐ mǎ yì qǐ zǒu。
Two horses are walking together.
我看见一匹白马。
wǒ kàn jiàn yì pǐ bái mǎ。
I saw a white horse.
5 mini stories
草地上有一匹漂亮的马。
cǎo dì shàng yǒu yì pǐ piào liang de mǎ。
There is a beautiful horse on the grass.
老师给大家介绍了“匹”这个量词。
lǎo shī gěi dà jiā jiè shào le “ pǐ ” zhè ge liàng cí。
The teacher introduced the measure word '匹'.
商店里卖一匹布。
shāng diàn lǐ mài yì pǐ bù。
The shop sells a bolt of cloth.
那匹马跑得很快。
nà pǐ mǎ pǎo dé hěn kuài。
That horse runs very fast.
他拍下了几匹马的照片。
tā pāi xià le jǐ pǐ mǎ de zhào piàn。
He took photos of several horses.
Mini dialogue
在农场
A
你看，那匹马真漂亮！
Nǐ kàn, nà pǐ mǎ zhēn piàoliang!
Look, that horse is so beautiful!
B
是啊，这匹白马跑得很快。
Shì a, zhè pǐ bái mǎ pǎo de hěn kuài.
Yes, this white horse runs very fast.
画画
A
我画了一匹马。
Wǒ huà le yī pǐ mǎ.
I drew a horse.
B
这匹马画得真好！
Zhè pǐ mǎ huà de zhēn hǎo!
This horse is drawn really well!
Related words and contrasts
related
只
zhī
measure word for some animals
只 is used for many animals, but 匹 is specific to horses.
related
头
tóu
measure word for large animals
头 is for cattle, elephants, etc., while 匹 is for horses.
related
条
tiáo
measure word for long animals
条 is for fish, snakes, etc., different from 匹.