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 |
| 零零 | 一一 | 二二 | 三三 | 四四 |
| 5️⃣ | 6️⃣ | 7️⃣ | 8️⃣ | 9️⃣ |
| 五五 | 六六 | 七七 | 八八 | 九九 |
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 两 liǎng is used specifically when counting or expressing a quantity of two. In the case of “200”, it is more appropriate to use 两百 liǎng bǎi as they imply a quantity of two hundred.
- “Two” in Chinese (二 èr and 两 liǎng)
200 – 两百 liǎng bǎi
240 – 两百四十 liǎng bǎi sì shí
222 – 两百二十二 liǎng bǎi èr shí èr
293 – 两百九十三 liǎng bǎi jiǔ shí sān
Note: 二百 èr bǎi is also understandable and used in some contexts, but 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 numbers 1
