Mastering Numbers in Chinese: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learning numbers in Chinese is essential as numbers are used daily in conversations, addresses, phone numbers, dates, and prices. Chinese numbers are straightforward, especially when you understand the pattern behind them. This guide will take you through learning numbers in Chinese, from basic digits to complex numbers, with tips and examples along the way!

1. Basic Numbers (0–10)

In Mandarin, numbers from 0 to 10 are unique and do not follow a pattern until you reach 11. Here’s a quick look:

Number	Character	Pinyin
0	零	líng
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

Practice Tip:

Write these characters and say the pinyin out loud to remember the pronunciation and appearance. Flashcards can be a helpful tool here to solidify your memory.

2. Building Numbers Beyond 10

In Chinese, numbers above 10 are constructed by combining the digits and tens. The formula is simple:

• 11 is written as 十一 (shí yī), which is literally "ten-one."
• 12 becomes 十二 (shí èr), or "ten-two."

This pattern continues until 19 (十九, shí jiǔ). Then, 20 is 二十 (èr shí), or "two-ten," and so forth.

Examples:

Number	Character	Pinyin
11	十一	shí yī
15	十五	shí wǔ
20	二十	èr shí
23	二十三	èr shí sān
30	三十	sān shí

Practice Tip:

Practice counting out loud from 11 to 100. Familiarizing yourself with these number patterns will help in building confidence when speaking Chinese.

3. Large Numbers: Hundreds, Thousands, and Beyond

Once you master numbers up to 99, the next step is to learn hundreds, thousands, and larger numbers.

• Hundreds (百, bǎi)
  • 100 is 一百 (yī bǎi).
  • 200 is 二百 (èr bǎi) or 两百 (liǎng bǎi) for more conversational use.
  • Continue this with 三百 (sān bǎi) for 300, 四百 (sì bǎi) for 400, etc.
• Thousands (千, qiān)
  • 1,000 is 一千 (yī qiān).
  • 2,000 can be 二千 (èr qiān) or 两千 (liǎng qiān).
• Ten Thousand (万, wàn)
  • In Chinese, 10,000 has its own character, 万 (wàn).
  • 10,000 is written as 一万 (yī wàn), 20,000 as 二万 (èr wàn), and so on.

Examples of Larger Numbers:

Number	Character	Pinyin
100	一百	yī bǎi
1,000	一千	yī qiān
10,000	一万	yī wàn
15,000	一万五千	yī wàn wǔ qiān
50,000	五万	wǔ wàn

Practice Tip:

Practice saying larger numbers you encounter daily, such as dates, prices, or phone numbers.

4. Ordinal Numbers

Adding 第 (dì) before a number makes it an ordinal number, similar to adding "st," "nd," or "rd" in English.

• 第一 (dì yī) - First
• 第二 (dì èr) - Second
• 第三 (dì sān) - Third

Practice Tip:

Use ordinal numbers to practice talking about days, rankings, or sequences, e.g., 第三课 (dì sān kè) for "Lesson Three."

5. Real-Life Practice with Chinese Numbers

Here are some scenarios to help you practice:

• Dates
  Today is 二零二三年十一月十二日 (èr líng èr sān nián shí yī yuè shí èr rì) - November 12, 2023.
• Phone Numbers
  Phone numbers in Chinese are read digit-by-digit. For example, 123-4567-8900 would be 一二三四五六七八九零零 (yī èr sān sì wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ líng líng).

6. Extra Tips for Learning Numbers in Chinese

• Listen and Repeat
  Listening to native speakers can improve your number pronunciation. Try listening to numbers spoken in Chinese dramas, news, or podcasts.
• Practice Daily Situations
  Use numbers when discussing time, prices, or other daily activities. For example, try saying the current time or counting items in Chinese.
• Use Visual Aids and Games
  Flashcards, apps, and number games can make learning numbers more engaging and interactive.

Conclusion

Learning numbers in Chinese is a building block for language fluency, and with consistent practice, you’ll be able to understand and use them confidently. Whether it's ordering food, giving your phone number, or reading the date, numbers are everywhere. Keep practicing, and soon enough, you’ll be counting, calculating, and communicating effortlessly in Mandarin!