Chinese Numbers 1

Grammar Point:
In Chinese, numbers are typically structured in a straightforward and consistent manner. Here are the basic elements and rules for constructing Chinese numbers:

Basic numerals:

Chinese has a set of basic numerals that are used to represent the digits from 0 to 9. They are:

0️⃣	1️⃣	2️⃣	3️⃣	4️⃣
零líng零líng 🔊	一yī一yī 🔊	二èr二èr 🔊	三sān三sān 🔊	四sì四sì 🔊
5️⃣	6️⃣	7️⃣	8️⃣	9️⃣
五wǔ五wǔ 🔊	六liù六liù 🔊	七qī七qī 🔊	八bā八bā 🔊	九jiǔ九jiǔ 🔊

Counting tens:

To express numbers in the tens (e.g., 10, 20, 30), the numeral in the tens position is followed by the character 十 shí. For example:

10 – 十 shí

20 – 二十 èr shí

30 – 三十 sān shí

80 – 八十 bā shí

90 – 九十 jiǔ shí

Combining digits:

To form numbers between 11 and 19, the numeral in the units position is preceded by the character 十 shí. For example:

11 – 十一 shí yī

12 – 十二 shí èr

13 – 十三 shí sān

19 – 十九 shí jiǔ

To form numbers between 21 and 99, first write the numeral representing the tens value followed by 十 shí, and then write the numeral for the units digit (0-9). For example:

21 – 二十一 èr shí yī

32 – 三十二 sān shí èr

45 – 四十五 sì shí wǔ

58 – 五十八 wǔ shí bā

69 – 六十九 liù shí jiǔ

77 – 七十七 qī shí qī

88 – 八十八 bā shí bā

99 – 九十九 jiǔ shí jiǔ

Hundreds:

To express numbers in the hundreds (e.g., 100, 200, 300), the numerals in the hundreds position are followed by character 百 bǎi. For example:

100 – 一百 yì bǎi

300 – 三百 sān bǎi

620 – 六百二十 liù bǎi èr shí

756 – 七百五十六 qī bǎi wǔ shí liù

609 – 六百零九 liù bǎi líng jiǔ

981 – 九百八十一 jiǔ bǎi bā shí yī

Special case: 200

二 èr is the numerical character for “two,” while 兩两 liǎng is used specifically when counting or expressing a quantity of two. In the case of “200”, it is more appropriate to use 兩两百 liǎng bǎi as they imply a quantity of two hundred.

• “Two” in Chinese (二 èr and 兩两 liǎng)

200 – 兩两百 liǎng bǎi

240 – 兩两百四十 liǎng bǎi sì shí

222 – 兩两百二十二 liǎng bǎi èr shí èr

293 – 兩两百九十三 liǎng bǎi jiǔ shí sān

Note: 二百 èr bǎi is also understandable and used in some contexts, but 兩两百 liǎng bǎi is more commonly used and considered more standard.

Others you need to know:

In certain contexts, when expressing prices or large numbers in speech, it is common in Chinese to shorten the numbers by dropping the last numeral if it is a zero. This practice simplifies the expression of numbers and makes it more efficient.

150 yì bǎi wǔ shí ➡️ yì bǎi wǔ

380 sān bǎi bā shí ➡️ sān bǎi bā

490 sì bǎi jiǔ shí ➡️ sì bǎi jiǔ

1400 yì qiān sì bǎi ➡️ yì qiān sì

Did you notice that? That’s why “zero” is always spoken out loud when it is not the final numeral in a number.

150 yì bǎi wǔ

105 yì bǎi líng wǔ

When reading phone numbers or room numbers in China, there is one specific number that changes: “one.” 一 yī is commonly read as “yāo” to avoid confusion with the word 七 qī.

123房 yāo èr sān fáng
Room 123

0102-361-XXX
líng yāo líng èr – sān liù yāo – XXX

110 yāo yāo líng
Number for the police station

119 yāo yāo jiǔ
Number to report a fire station

• Chinese Bigger Numbers