<p>In English, an article such as "a", "an", "the" is essential element before a countable noun. In Chinese it is optional.</p>

<p>Comparing "He is a teacher" with "他是老師". 他/He implies there is one person. "a" is redundant.</p>

<p>In "他是一位老師" and "他是一名老師",  "一位" and "一名" is a kind of respect to a teacher. 位 means position and rank. 名 means famed.  In the old days, Chinese showed their high respect to teachers.</p>

<p>"一個" is a common measuring word. Saying "他是一個老師" is like treating a teacher as a common object or a common person. </p>

<p>In practical, 一 is redundant and people often say "他是位老師" and "他是名老師". So do "他是個老師".</p>

<p>In Classical Chinese, we can writing "他是一老師" if we emphasize it it "one".</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-21T23:34:09.887Z
2019-10-21T23:34:09.887Z
OmniBus
<p>Concerning your two example sentences, I believe that the difference is a matter of respect.</p>

<ul>
<li>名 : a person or a member of a group </li>
<li>位 : a person (showing respect)</li>
</ul>

<p>Aside from that there should not be any difference.</p>

<p>Source: <a href="http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/Measure%20words.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/Measure%20words.htm</a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-24T10:38:38.817Z
2019-05-24T10:38:38.817Z
metters
<p>I saw two versions of a sentence "He is a teacher":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他是老师。 VS 他是一个老师。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>After googling I've become even more confused by versions:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他是一位老师。 AND 他是一名老师。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Are they actually different? What is the difference? Is it possible to use these ‘一什么什么’ in questions? </p>

<p><strong>Update:</strong></p>

<p>Found one more version:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>他是个老师。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Which is said to be informal <a href="https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/7371037" rel="noreferrer">at this link</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-24T12:52:15.403Z
他是一泡老师 -or- 他是一尊老师 for comedic effect.
Mou某
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-27T08:23:39.090Z
@user3306356 , "他是一尊老师" this is a nice example :)
Ivan Gerasimenko
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-10-23T11:03:41.713Z
There's also [他当老师](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/27715/8099).
Becky 李蓓
<measure-word>
How does 一个， 一位，一名 change the meaning of a sentence?
# How does 一个， 一位，一名 change the meaning of a sentence?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-24)

I saw two versions of a sentence "He is a teacher":

> 他是老师。 VS 他是一个老师。

After googling I've become even more confused by versions:

> 他是一位老师。 AND 他是一名老师。

Are they actually different? What is the difference? Is it possible to use these ‘一什么什么’ in questions?

**Update:**

Found one more version:

> 他是个老师。

Which is said to be informal [at this link](https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/7371037).

**Tags:** measure-word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 他是一泡老师 -or- 他是一尊老师 for comedic effect.  
> **username_0**: @user3306356 , "他是一尊老师" this is a nice example :)  
> **username_2**: There's also [他当老师](https://chinese.stackexchange.com/q/27715/8099).  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2019-10-21. Score: 2

In English, an article such as "a", "an", "the" is essential element before a countable noun. In Chinese it is optional.

Comparing "He is a teacher" with "他是老師". 他/He implies there is one person. "a" is redundant.

In "他是一位老師" and "他是一名老師", "一位" and "一名" is a kind of respect to a teacher. 位 means position and rank. 名 means famed. In the old days, Chinese showed their high respect to teachers.

"一個" is a common measuring word. Saying "他是一個老師" is like treating a teacher as a common object or a common person.

In practical, 一 is redundant and people often say "他是位老師" and "他是名老師". So do "他是個老師".

In Classical Chinese, we can writing "他是一老師" if we emphasize it it "one".


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### Answer by username_4 on 2019-05-24. Score: 1

Concerning your two example sentences, I believe that the difference is a matter of respect.

* 名 : a person or a member of a group
* 位 : a person (showing respect)

Aside from that there should not be any difference.

Source: <http://www.ctcfl.ox.ac.uk/Grammar%20exercises/Measure%20words.htm>


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