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Chinese Numbers 数字

Master counting and numbers in Chinese

Why Learn Chinese Numbers?

Numbers are essential for everyday interactions in China, from shopping and bargaining to telling time and dates. Learning Chinese numbers will help you navigate prices, understand quantities, and communicate more effectively during your travels.

Quick Number Facts

  • Counting System: Chinese uses a decimal system similar to English
  • Number Characters: Each number has a unique character
  • Counting Units: Chinese uses measure words (量词) when counting objects
  • Lucky Numbers: Some numbers are considered lucky (8) or unlucky (4) in Chinese culture

Basic Numbers (1-10)

一 1 yī
二 2 èr
三 3 sān
四 4 sì
五 5 wǔ
六 6 liù
七 7 qī
八 8 bā
九 9 jiǔ
十 10 shí
Listen to pronunciation: 一, 二, 三 (yī, èr, sān)

Numbers 11-100

English Chinese Pinyin Notes
11 十一 shí yī 10 + 1
20 二十 èr shí 2 × 10
21 二十一 èr shí yī 2 × 10 + 1
30 三十 sān shí 3 × 10
40 四十 sì shí 4 × 10
50 五十 wǔ shí 5 × 10
60 六十 liù shí 6 × 10
70 七十 qī shí 7 × 10
80 八十 bā shí 8 × 10
90 九十 jiǔ shí 9 × 10
100 一百 yī bǎi 1 × 100

Pattern for Numbers 11-99

For numbers between 11 and 99, the pattern is: [tens digit] + 十 + [ones digit]

Example: 35 = 三十五 (sān shí wǔ) = 3 × 10 + 5

Note: For numbers ending in zero, you only need the tens digit + 十

Example: 40 = 四十 (sì shí) = 4 × 10

Larger Numbers

English Chinese Pinyin Notes
100 一百 yī bǎi 1 × 100
1,000 一千 yī qiān 1 × 1,000
10,000 一万 yī wàn 1 × 10,000
100,000 十万 shí wàn 10 × 10,000
1,000,000 一百万 yī bǎi wàn 1 × 100 × 10,000

Important Note About Large Numbers

Chinese uses a different counting system for large numbers compared to English. The key difference is the use of 万 (wàn) for 10,000, which is a fundamental unit in Chinese counting.

For example, 50,000 in Chinese is 五万 (wǔ wàn) = 5 × 10,000, not "fifty thousand" as in English.

Counting Objects

Measure Words

In Chinese, you must use a measure word (量词) between a number and a noun when counting objects.

  • 个 (gè) - General measure word for most objects
  • 只 (zhī) - For animals and certain objects
  • 张 (zhāng) - For flat objects like paper, tables
  • 本 (běn) - For books and bound items
  • 杯 (bēi) - For cups and glasses

Common Examples

Here are some common examples of counting objects in Chinese:

  • 一个苹果 (yī gè píngguǒ) - One apple
  • 两只猫 (liǎng zhī māo) - Two cats
  • 三本书 (sān běn shū) - Three books
  • 四张桌子 (sì zhāng zhuōzi) - Four tables
  • 五杯水 (wǔ bēi shuǐ) - Five glasses of water

Special Cases

Some special cases and exceptions in Chinese counting:

  • 两 (liǎng) is used instead of 二 (èr) for counting objects
  • Some nouns don't require measure words (time, money)
  • Some nouns have specific measure words that must be used
  • Measure words can change based on context or region

Numbers in Daily Life

Time

Numbers are essential for telling time in Chinese:

  • 点 (diǎn) - Used for hours
  • 分 (fēn) - Used for minutes
  • Example: 三点十五分 (sān diǎn shí wǔ fēn) - 3:15
  • Example: 早上七点 (zǎo shang qī diǎn) - 7:00 AM

Money

Numbers are used for prices and currency in Chinese:

  • 元/块 (yuán/kuài) - Used for Chinese Yuan
  • 角 (jiǎo) - Used for 1/10 of a Yuan
  • 分 (fēn) - Used for 1/100 of a Yuan
  • Example: 十五元 (shí wǔ yuán) - 15 Yuan

Dates

Numbers are used for dates in Chinese:

  • 年 (nián) - Year
  • 月 (yuè) - Month
  • 日/号 (rì/hào) - Day
  • Example: 二零二三年五月十五日 (èr líng èr sān nián wǔ yuè shí wǔ rì) - May 15, 2023

Cultural Significance

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers

  • 8 (八 bā): Considered very lucky, sounds like "prosperity" (发 fā)
  • 6 (六 liù): Considered lucky, sounds like "smooth" (溜 liū)
  • 9 (九 jiǔ): Considered lucky, sounds like "long-lasting" (久 jiǔ)
  • 4 (四 sì): Considered unlucky, sounds like "death" (死 sǐ)
  • 7 (七 qī): Sometimes considered unlucky, especially in Cantonese

These lucky and unlucky numbers influence many aspects of Chinese culture, from building floor numbers to phone numbers and license plates. When traveling in China, you may notice that some buildings skip the 4th floor or that certain numbers are more expensive in phone numbers.

Practical Tips

Making the Most of Your Number Knowledge

  • Start with the basics: Master numbers 1-10 first
  • Learn common measure words: Focus on 个 (gè) and a few others
  • Practice counting objects: Use the pattern [number] + [measure word] + [noun]
  • Learn prices: Practice saying and recognizing prices in Chinese
  • Use hand gestures: Chinese people often use hand gestures to indicate numbers

Remember that Chinese people are generally patient with foreigners learning their language. Even if your pronunciation isn't perfect, your effort to use numbers in Chinese will be appreciated and often lead to more positive interactions during your travels in China.

Additional Resources