Learn Chinese Numbers from 0 to 9999
Chinese numbers are confusing to many, but from today you will be able to count from 0 to 9999 in mandarin Chinese. Let's begin by counting from 0 to 10, which are the most fundamental numbers in Chinese. Since each number has only one syllable, they are very easy to remember. Isn¡¯t that exciting?
| 0 | l¨ªn¨À | |
| 1 | y¨© | |
| 2 | ¨¨r | |
| 3 | s¨¡n | |
| 4 | s¨¬ | |
| 5 | w¨³ | |
| 6 | li¨´ | |
| 7 | q¨© | |
| 8 | b¨¡ | |
| 9 | ji¨³ | |
| 10 | sh¨ª |
For the numbers from 11 to 19, you take ¡°sh¨ª¡± which means ¡°ten¡± and then put the small number after it. So you can say ¡°ten one¡± for ¡°11¡±, ¡°ten two¡± for ¡°12¡±, ¡°ten three¡± for ¡°13¡± and etc.
| 11 | sh¨ª y¨© | |
| 12 | sh¨ª ¨¨r | |
| 13 | sh¨ª s¨¡n |
And for 20, 30¡ 90, you say the small number first and then put ¡°ten¡± after it. So you can say ¡°two ten¡± for ¡°20¡±, ¡°three ten¡± for ¡°30¡±, ¡°nine ten¡± for ¡°90¡± and etc. If there is a small number after ¡°20, 30¡¡±, just put it at the end.
| 20 | ¨¨r sh¨ª | |
| 30 | s¨¡n sh¨ª | |
| 90 | ji¨³ sh¨ª |
Next, let¡¯s lean ¡°hundred¡±. The word for hundred is ¡°°Ù(b¨£i)¡±. The pattern is: If you want to say 100, 200, 300 ¡900, take the small number first and plus the ¡°hundred¡±. So,
| 100 | y¨© b¨£i | |
| 200 | ¨¨r b¨£i | |
| 300 | s¨¡n b¨£i |
For 200, it¡¯s correct to say ¡°¨¨r b¨£i¡±, but Chinese people also say ¡°li¨£n¨À b¨£i¡±. In mandarin Chinese, both ¡°¨¨r¡± and ¡°li¨£n¨À¡± mean the number ¡°2¡±. But if ¡°2¡± in on the hundred digit, thousand digit and above, more often Chinese say ¡°li¨£n¨À¡± instead of ¡°¨¨r¡±. So, how do we say 222?
| 222 |  |
|
| 222 |  |
Next, ¡°thousand¡± is ¡°Ç§(qi¨¡n)¡±. The pattern is the same as ¡°°Ù(b¨£i)¡±. So,
| 2000 | ¨¨r qi¨¡n | |
| 3000 | s¨¡n qi¨¡n | |
| 4000 | s¨¬ qi¨¡n |
How would you say the number 820?
¡°b¨¡ b¨£i ¨¨r sh¨ª¡± is correct, but we also say ¡°b¨¡ b¨£i ¨¨r¡±. In mandarin Chinese, if the number is over a hundred and it¡¯s also a multiple time of ¡°ten¡±, then we usually chop off the ¡°ten¡± or ¡°hundred¡± to make it short and simple. So, 820 is often pronounced:
And 5200 is pronounced:
¡°If 820 is ¡°b¨¡ b¨£i ¨¨r¡±, then how about 802?¡± That is a good question! In Chinese, ¡°Áã(l¨ªn¨À)¡± is zero. We put ¡°Á㡱 in the middle, in a position where the digit is missed. So, 802 is pronounced:
The best way to memorize Chinese numbers is to count them loud from 0 to 100. Then you can automatically speak it out when you see them. You can also check whether you have mastered Chinese numbers by doing this pop quiz.
Numbers also play a significant role in Chinese culture and knowing these numbers and their meanings in Chinese culture is crucial.
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