How to Count Numbers in Chinese

How to Count Numbers in Chinese: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough

Counting numbers in Chinese might seem daunting at first, but with a systematic approach, it becomes manageable and even enjoyable. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the process step-by-step, complete with screenshots and examples.

How do you count numbers in Chinese?
Counting numbers in Chinese involves learning the basic numbers from 1 to 10, understanding the use of units for tens, hundreds, thousands, and beyond, and distinguishing between 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng) for different contexts.
How do you say the Chinese numbers from 1 to 10?
The numbers from 1 to 10 in Chinese are: 一 (yī), 二 (èr), 三 (sān), 四 (sì), 五 (wǔ), 六 (liù), 七 (qī), 八 (bā), 九 (jiǔ), 十 (shí).
How do you count 7 in Chinese hand?
In Chinese hand gestures, 7 is represented by holding up the index and middle fingers together, while the other fingers are closed.
How to write 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 in Chinese?
The numbers 1 to 10 in Chinese are written as: 一, 二, 三, 四, 五, 六, 七, 八, 九, 十.
Why do Chinese like number 6?
The number 6 (六, liù) is considered lucky in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word for 'flow' (流, liú), implying smooth progress and success.
How do you say 0 in Mandarin?
0 is 零 (líng) in Mandarin.

Want to test your Chinese counting skills? Try our interactive quiz at the end of this article!

1. Understanding the Basics: Numbers 1 to 10

First, let's get familiar with the numbers from 1 to 10 in Chinese:

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin
1	一	yī
2	二	èr
3	三	sān
4	四	sì
5	五	wǔ
6	六	liù
7	七	qī
8	八	bā
9	九	jiǔ
10	十	shí

2. Chinese: Decimal System

Chinese uses the decimal system, meaning numbers are based on powers of ten. This system forms the basis for all numbers beyond ten.

3. Forming Numbers 11 to 19

In Chinese, numbers 11 to 19 are formed by combining the number 10 (十) with the numbers 1 to 9. Here’s how it works:

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin
11	十一	shí yī
12	十二	shí èr
13	十三	shí sān
14	十四	shí sì
15	十五	shí wǔ
16	十六	shí liù
17	十七	shí qī
18	十八	shí bā
19	十九	shí jiǔ

4. Counting by Tens: 20, 30, 40, etc.

For tens (20, 30, 40, etc.), you combine the number for the tens place with 十 (shí). For instance:

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin
20	二十	èr shí
30	三十	sān shí
40	四十	sì shí
50	五十	wǔ shí
60	六十	liù shí
70	七十	qī shí
80	八十	bā shí
90	九十	jiǔ shí

5. Numbers 21 to 99

For numbers like 21, 22, etc., you combine the tens place with the units place. Here are a few examples:

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin
21	二十一	èr shí yī
35	三十五	sān shí wǔ
47	四十七	sì shí qī
58	五十八	wǔ shí bā
69	六十九	liù shí jiǔ
73	七十三	qī shí sān
84	八十四	bā shí sì
99	九十九	jiǔ shí jiǔ

6. Hundreds, Thousands, and Beyond

When counting hundreds, thousands, and beyond, the structure remains consistent:

Hundreds: Number + 百 (bǎi)
Thousands: Number + 千 (qiān)
Ten Thousands: Number + 万 (wàn)

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin
100	一百	yī bǎi
200	二百	èr bǎi
300	三百	sān bǎi
1000	一千	yī qiān
2000	二千	èr qiān
3000	三千	sān qiān
10000	一万	yī wàn
20000	二万	èr wàn
30000	三万	sān wàn

7. Distinguishing Between "二" and "两"

In Chinese, the number 2 can be written as 二 (èr) or 两 (liǎng). The usage depends on the context:

二 (èr): Used in numerical sequences, such as phone numbers, room numbers, or when counting (e.g., 二十 for 20).
两 (liǎng): Used when specifying quantities or measurements, and when telling time.

Examples:

Numerical Sequences: Use 二 (èr) for phone numbers, room numbers, etc.
Phone number: 123-4567-8910 → 一二三四五六七八九一零
Room number: 202 → 二零二
Quantities and Time: Use 两 (liǎng) for specifying quantities or telling time.
两个人 (liǎng gè rén) - Two people
两点钟 (liǎng diǎn zhōng) - Two o'clock
两年 (liǎng nián) - Two years
两个苹果 (liǎng gè píngguǒ) - Two apples

8. Numbers Beyond Ten Thousand

For numbers beyond ten thousand, Chinese uses a different system:

Ten Thousand: 万 (wàn)
Hundred Thousand: 十万 (shí wàn)
Million: 百万 (bǎi wàn)
Ten Million: 千万 (qiān wàn)
Hundred Million: 亿 (yì)

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin
10000	一万	yī wàn
100000	十万	shí wàn
1000000	一百万	yī bǎi wàn
10000000	一千万	yī qiān wàn
100000000	一亿	yī yì

Test your knowledge with our interactive quiz!

Question 1: How do you say 500 in Chinese?

A) 五百 (wǔ bǎi)

B) 五千 (wǔ qiān)

C) 五万 (wǔ wàn)

Question 2: What is the correct way to say two apples in Chinese?

A) 二个苹果 (èr gè píngguǒ)

B) 两个苹果 (liǎng gè píngguǒ)

C) 双个苹果 (shuāng gè píngguǒ)

Question 3: How do you write 10,000 in Chinese?

A) 一千 (yī qiān)

B) 一万 (yī wàn)

C) 十万 (shí wàn)

Conclusion

With these steps, you should now have a solid understanding of how to count numbers in Chinese. Practice regularly, and soon you'll be counting fluently. Happy learning!