<p>From <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%8A%8A#Definitions" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wiktionary</a>:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p><strong>把</strong></p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>Classifier for objects that can be held using handles or knobs, such as guns, chairs, brooms, umbrellas.</li>
  <li>Classifier for handfuls of something, such as grains, soil.</li>
  <li>Classifier for bundles or bunches.</li>
  <li>Classifier for some abstract ideas, such as force, effort or age.</li>
  <li>Classifier for something done with the hand.</li>
  </ul>
</blockquote>

<p>I agree that「臺」or「部」sounds better (as a matter of perception; both are specifically used for machines/devices), because <strong>手機</strong> falls most appropriately into the last group, and sounds a bit vulgar (as if you're <em>doing</em> your cellphone).</p>

<p>I don't agree that「個」is better than「把」, though.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-17T15:37:00.113Z
NB: you could possibly say that 手機 falls under the first or second groups, but it's still not as fitting as「臺」or「部」.
dROOOze
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-17T16:07:13.667Z
This is interesting. My teacher thinks 個 is acceptable, my former tandem partner thought 把 was acceptable, but 個 not. So far everyone seems to accept 部 and 台。
Ludi
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-17T15:00:18.377Z
2018-05-17T15:00:18.377Z
dROOOze
<p>把 is a cultural usage in China, it suggests that the phone feels light when you take/carry it.</p>
<p>But I don't recommend using it, because we usually describe small objects as &quot;一把 small objects&quot;, more like &quot;a handful of small objects&quot;.</p>
<p>For example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>一把小挂件 = a handful of small pendants.</p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T01:23:44.810Z
2020-07-16T09:13:24.157Z
2020-07-16T09:13:24.157Z
nether End
<p>Put '手机的量词是什么' in 百度, you will get a lot of answers，most of them 部. </p>

<p>My 手机 is so big and thin, I'd like to say '这张手机‘</p>

<p>Have a look <a href="https://www.zhihu.com/question/19904687/answer/17829157" rel="nofollow noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>“只”体现手机的灵巧，“部”体现物品的所属权性；“个”的量词比较苍白，但也在使用（我不赞同通用这个量词）。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-17T23:24:27.180Z
No, not 张 .....
fefe
CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T09:19:31.597Z
@fefe You are absolutely right that 一张 is not a proper classifier for "phone", but I think here Pedroski was joking. At times I also jokingly say that my phone is 一张, because it's very big. I'm writing this comment to clarify Pedroski's answer for other readers.
blackgreen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-17T22:07:43.253Z
2018-05-17T22:07:43.253Z
Pedroski
<p>Normally we say: 一台新手机 or 一部新手机. With &quot;台&quot;, &quot;部&quot; as the classifier for the new mobile-phone.</p>
<p>Or:  一个手机. for the phones used for a while...</p>
<p>We wouldn't say &quot;一把手机&quot;.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T12:23:04.260Z
2020-07-18T20:17:01.643Z
2020-07-18T20:17:01.643Z
Siwei
<p>To me, 部 is a formal classifier for 手机. 台 is usually used for a bigger machine, like computer &amp; TV 一台电脑 &amp; 一台电视.  一台手机 doesn't sound quite right to me. </p>

<p>一把手机 is not used in practice for whatever reason. I guess it might be because 我要买一把手机 could mean you want to buy a handful of 手机s, implying several 手机s, not just one. </p>

<p>Colloquially, sometimes I heard 一个手机 is being used. Like in the sentences: 我要买一个手机; 我想买个手机. </p>

<p>Well, 我要买一部手机 sounds more formal and it's not as casual as 我要买一个手机 or 我想买个手机 in our daily communications. </p>

<p>That's my observation from my neck of woods. Others from other regions may take this differently. </p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2020-07-16T12:46:27.180Z
"一把手机" sounds weird. Normally, one hand only can hold one mobile phone. "一把" usually appear before small things such as "瓜子" "盐".
T-Pioneer
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-17T23:35:03.593Z
2018-05-17T23:48:51.623Z
2018-05-17T23:48:51.623Z
dan
<p>My teacher detracted a few points for using 一把手機。It seems that 一台，一部, 一個 are better choices. However, I find many occurrences of 一把手機</p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.at/search?source=hp&amp;ei=K479Wr-bLNGQkwWMvaHwBQ&amp;q=%E4%B8%80%E6%8A%8A%E6%89%8B%E6%A9%9F&amp;oq=&amp;gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.0.41l3.0.0..6385...0....0.0.......0...........3.5NYXk8kY9og%3D" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Google search</a></p>
<p>Is it a dialectal phenomenon? Maybe in dialects where 把 and 部 sound similar？</p>
<p>Edit:
This <a href="https://www.zhihu.com/question/19904687" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a> claims that 一把手機 occurs in 溫州方言</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-18T01:51:50.130Z
Also 支 or 只 is using for cellphone in Taiwan
xenophōn
<topolect><measure-word>
Why did my teacher mark down 一把 as a classifier for 手機?
# Why did my teacher mark down 一把 as a classifier for 手機?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-17)

My teacher detracted a few points for using 一把手機。It seems that 一台，一部, 一個 are better choices. However, I find many occurrences of 一把手機

[Google search](https://www.google.at/search?source=hp&ei=K479Wr-bLNGQkwWMvaHwBQ&q=%E4%B8%80%E6%8A%8A%E6%89%8B%E6%A9%9F&oq=&gs_l=mobile-gws-wiz-hp.1.0.41l3.0.0..6385...0....0.0.......0...........3.5NYXk8kY9og%3D)

Is it a dialectal phenomenon? Maybe in dialects where 把 and 部 sound similar？

Edit:
This [source](https://www.zhihu.com/question/19904687) claims that 一把手機 occurs in 溫州方言

**Tags:** topolect, measure-word

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Also 支 or 只 is using for cellphone in Taiwan  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_8 on 2018-05-17. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

To me, 部 is a formal classifier for 手机. 台 is usually used for a bigger machine, like computer & TV 一台电脑 & 一台电视. 一台手机 doesn't sound quite right to me.

一把手机 is not used in practice for whatever reason. I guess it might be because 我要买一把手机 could mean you want to buy a handful of 手机s, implying several 手机s, not just one.

Colloquially, sometimes I heard 一个手机 is being used. Like in the sentences: 我要买一个手机; 我想买个手机.

Well, 我要买一部手机 sounds more formal and it's not as casual as 我要买一个手机 or 我想买个手机 in our daily communications.

That's my observation from my neck of woods. Others from other regions may take this differently.

> **Comments:**
> **username_9**: "一把手机" sounds weird. Normally, one hand only can hold one mobile phone. "一把" usually appear before small things such as "瓜子" "盐".  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-05-17. Score: 3

From [Wiktionary](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E6%8A%8A#Definitions):

> **把**
>
> * Classifier for objects that can be held using handles or knobs, such as guns, chairs, brooms, umbrellas.
> * Classifier for handfuls of something, such as grains, soil.
> * Classifier for bundles or bunches.
> * Classifier for some abstract ideas, such as force, effort or age.
> * Classifier for something done with the hand.

I agree that「臺」or「部」sounds better (as a matter of perception; both are specifically used for machines/devices), because **手機** falls most appropriately into the last group, and sounds a bit vulgar (as if you're *doing* your cellphone).

I don't agree that「個」is better than「把」, though.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: NB: you could possibly say that 手機 falls under the first or second groups, but it's still not as fitting as「臺」or「部」.  
> **username_0**: This is interesting. My teacher thinks 個 is acceptable, my former tandem partner thought 把 was acceptable, but 個 not. So far everyone seems to accept 部 and 台。  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2020-07-16. Score: 2

把 is a cultural usage in China, it suggests that the phone feels light when you take/carry it.

But I don't recommend using it, because we usually describe small objects as "一把 small objects", more like "a handful of small objects".

For example:

> 一把小挂件 = a handful of small pendants.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-05-17. Score: 1

Put '手机的量词是什么' in 百度, you will get a lot of answers，most of them 部.

My 手机 is so big and thin, I'd like to say '这张手机‘

Have a look [here](https://www.zhihu.com/question/19904687/answer/17829157).

“只”体现手机的灵巧，“部”体现物品的所属权性；“个”的量词比较苍白，但也在使用（我不赞同通用这个量词）。

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: No, not 张 .....  
> **username_6**: @username_5 You are absolutely right that 一张 is not a proper classifier for "phone", but I think here username_4 was joking. At times I also jokingly say that my phone is 一张, because it's very big. I'm writing this comment to clarify username_4's answer for other readers.  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2020-07-16. Score: 0

Normally we say: 一台新手机 or 一部新手机. With "台", "部" as the classifier for the new mobile-phone.

Or: 一个手机. for the phones used for a while...

We wouldn't say "一把手机".


---

