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I find the distinction between 匹 and 頭 is rather tricky, because it is based
on the size of the animal in question, and size is **very relative** and
varies **greatly** among animals, even within the same species. And
unfortunately there doesn't seem to be comprehensive list on which animal goes
with which counter.

So when you look at an animal, how do you determine which counter to use?

Is it based purely on size or on collocation (or conventional usage if you
will)? Roughly speaking, how big is "big" and how small is "small"? And if
it's usually based on collocation, how do you expand the rule of thumb to
unfamiliar animals, like say a capybara, a python or a binturong? Do all
breeds of dog go with 匹? What about huge ones like the St. Bernard? Does "two
piglets" use the same counter as "two grown pigs"? From what I've Googled,
kangaroos seem to go with 匹 even though lots of them are so big they can
easily knock a grown human out.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-04-06T10:22:21.873
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2019-04-10T16:29:53.950
2019-04-10T16:29:53.950
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word-choice counters animals
Counters for animals: 匹 vs 頭: roughly how big is "big" and how small is "small"?
Roughly speaking, an animal bigger than a human being is "big". As for St.
Bernard and kangaroos, both 匹 and 頭 are fine. We usually use 頭 for lions, but
using 匹 for a baby lion is fine. In certain scientific contexts, 頭 is
preferred regardless of the size.
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2019-04-07T03:58:41.677
66471
2019-04-07T03:58:41.677
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Here's a thing about language in general: When there is a case statement like
this one, it is almost never based on a hard and fast rule. It's not like "If
an animal is 5'1" tall then it's an A, if it's less than 5' then it's a B",
because usually a) it doesn't matter and b) nobody is actually going to check
your math. The general rule of thumb should be: When you think of the case in
question, do you associate that image with A or with B? For example, if I
think "dog", I usually think of a small animal. When I think of "bear", I
usually think of a big animal. Therefore, for dog I would use 匹 and for bear I
would use 頭, even when talking about a small bear or a large dog. Babies of
large animals are, of course, a special case.
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2019-04-08T17:31:11.767
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2019-04-08T17:31:11.767
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