Numbers in Chinese and tone changes for 1

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:

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

• Numbers 1 (0~999)

• Chinese Bigger Numbers

Tone changes for 一 yī

When counting numbers less than 99 or when 一 yī is the last character in a word, it should always be pronounced with the first tone.

1yī, 2èr, 3sān, 4sì1yī, 2èr, 3sān, 4sì one, two, three, four

十一shíyī點diǎn十一shíyī点diǎn 11 o’clock

第一dìyī第一dìyī first

周一zhōuyī周一zhōuyī Monday

唯一wéiyī唯一wéiyī only

2èr0líng1yī1yī年nián2èr0líng1yī1yī年nián year of 2011

Exception:

一月yīyuè一月yīyuè January

When 一 yī follows a measure word, counts more than 100, or is the first character in a word, and the following word is in the first tone, second tone, or third tone, it should be pronounced with the fourth tone.

一yì本běn書shū一yì本běn书shū　a book

一百yìbǎi一百yìbǎi　100

一千yìqiān一千yìqiān　1000

一起yìqǐ一起yìqǐ　together

一些yìxiē一些yìxiē　some

When the following word is in the fourth tone or a neutral tone, 一 yī should be pronounced with the second tone.

一件yíjiàn衣服yīfú一件yíjiàn衣服yīfu　one piece of clothing

一樣yíyàng一样yíyáng　the same

一半yíbàn一半yíbàn　half

一萬yíwàn一万yíwàn　10000

Special case in China

Yī (一) and qī (七) can sound similar, so in certain situations, 一 can be pronounced as yāo. This happens when giving phone numbers, hotel room numbers, and bus numbers with three digits.

我的wǒde房fáng號hào是shì123yāoèrsān我的wǒde房fáng号hào是shì123yāoèrsān
My room number is 123.

Practice

Try to read the following words:

一 tiān　一 wèi　一 zhī　一 tiáo　一 wàn　一 diǎn　一 tái　一 fēn　一 běn　一 ge　一 bēi　一 dài　一 zhí　一 zhǒng　一 fèn　一 yàng