Decimal, fraction, percentage, and multiple in Chinese

Here’s how Chinese expresses decimal, fraction, percentage, and multiple:

Decimal

小數数 xiǎoshù: In Chinese, decimals are expressed using the same format as in English, with a decimal point. If the digits after the decimal point exceed two, we read them individually.

0.5: 零líng點diǎn五wǔ零líng点diǎn五wǔ

12.25: 十二shíèr點diǎn二èr五wǔ十二shíèr点diǎn二èr五wǔ

3.724: 三sān點diǎn七qī二èr四sì三sān点diǎn七qī二èr四sì

72.0029: 七十二qīshíèr點diǎn零líng零líng二èr九jiǔ七十二qīshíèr点diǎn零líng零líng二èr九jiǔ

Fraction

分數数 fēnshù: To express fractions in Chinese, you combine the numerator 分子, fēnzǐ and the denominator 分母 fēnmǔ with 分之 fēnzhī. If there is also a whole number part, you use 又 yòu to connect the whole number part and the fraction part.

2/3: 三sān分之fēnzhī二èr三sān分之fēnzhī二èr

1/5: 五wǔ分之fēnzhī一yī五wǔ分之fēnzhī一yī

2 1/2: 二èr又yòu二èr分之fēnzhī一yī二èr又yòu二èr分之fēnzhī一yī

18 3/5: 十八shíbā又yòu五wǔ分之fēnzhī三sān十八shíbā又yòu五wǔ分之fēnzhī三sān

Percentage

百分比 bǎifēnbǐ: In Chinese, percentages are expressed by adding the character 百分之 bǎifēnzhī before the number. In Taiwan, it’s commonly referred to as “pa.”

25%: 百分之bǎifēnzhī二十五èrshíwǔ百分之bǎifēnzhī二十五èrshíwǔ or 二十五èrshíwǔ二十五èrshíwǔ%pā%pā

72%: 百分之bǎifēnzhī七十二qīshíèr百分之bǎifēnzhī七十二qīshíèr or 七十二qīshíèr七十二qīshíèr%pā%pā

0.5%: 百分之bǎifēnzhī零líng點diǎn五wǔ百分之bǎifēnzhī零líng点diǎn五wǔ or 零líng點diǎn五wǔ零líng点diǎn五wǔ%pā%pā

Multiple

倍數数 bèishù: Multiples are expressed using the character 倍 bèi after the number.

2 times: 兩liǎng倍bèi两liǎng倍bèi

4 times: 四sì倍bèi四sì倍bèi

2.5 times: 二èr點diǎn五wǔ倍bèi二èr点diǎn五wǔ倍bèi

Practice

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✔️π

三sān點diǎn一yī四sì三sān点diǎn一yī四sì

✔️ The original price is NTD 100. It is now discounted by 20%. What is the discounted price compared to the original price?

百分之bǎifēnzhī八十bāshí百分之bǎifēnzhī八十bāshí or 八十bāshí%pā八十bāshí%pā

✔️ You know 800 Chinese words, and I know 4800. How many times more words do I know than you?

六liù倍bèi六liù倍bèi