个
gè
The counter that doesn't look: 个
The picture Grabbing one of something without asking what shape it is. Anything becomes a single lump in your hand. 个 lumps a thing into one without looking at its shape; 张 counts one thin surface spread out flat.
Where the picture shows up in 个
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just one of them
我要一个。
wǒ yào yí ge
I'll take one.
Picking one item off the shelf and setting it down on the counter.
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people are lumps too
我们组有五个人。
wǒmen zǔ yǒu wǔ ge rén
There are five of us on the team.
Pointing along the row of chairs, counting the people one, two, up to five.
For 'two' use 两, not 二: 两个人.
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the one at your fingertip
这个多少钱？
zhège duōshao qián
How much is this one?
A fingertip resting on the item on the display table while you ask the price.
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even what you can't touch
我有一个问题。
wǒ yǒu yí ge wèntí
I have a question.
A hand shooting up with one finger raised to bring out a question.
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even an hour is one lump
请等一个小时。
qǐng děng yí ge xiǎoshí
Please wait an hour.
Slicing one hour's wedge off a clock face with your finger.
All of it in one picture
The thing off the shelf is one, the people in the chairs are five, the thing under your fingertip is one, the question in your head is one, and the hour you wait is one lump too. Object, person, question or hour — 个 never asks what shape it is; it just balls the thing up and puts it in your hand. So anything counted with 个 keeps that feeling of 'one, shape unexamined'. That is also why, when the right counter will not come to mind, you can duck into 个.