Chinese Numbers
Numbers are essential for talking about quantities, ages, prices and dates in Chinese. This list presents common numerals and related expressions—decimals, percentages, negatives and approximations—useful for beginner to intermediate learners.
- 零 líng — zero; nought; the numeral 0
- 一 yī — one (the number 1)
- 二 èr — two (the number 2)
- 三 sān — three; 3
- 四 sì — four; the number 4
- 五 wǔ — five; 5
- 六 liù — six; the number 6
- 七 qī — seven (the number 7)
- 八 bā — eight (the numeral 8)
- 九 jiǔ — nine; the number 9
- 十 shí — ten; 10
- 百 bǎi — hundred (100)
- 千 qiān — thousand (the number 1,000)
- 万 wàn — ten thousand; a great number
- 亿 yì — 100 million
- 两 liǎng — two (the number 2); both (when used before a classifier)
- 几 jī — small low table; side table (archaic/colloquial)
- 多少 duōshǎo — number; amount; quantity
- 点 diǎn — to touch briefly; to tap; to mark with a dot; to check off (on a list)
- 分 fēn — to divide; to separate; to distribute; to allocate; to distinguish (good and bad)
- 秒 miǎo — second (unit of time)
- 整数 zhěngshù — whole number; integer (math)
- 小数 xiǎoshù — the part of a number to the right of the decimal (radix) point; decimal (fractional) part
- 负 fù — to bear; to carry (on one's back or shoulders); to take responsibility for
- 正 zhēng — first month of the lunar year (the lunar New Year month)
- 个位 gèwèi — the units place (or units column) in the decimal number system
- 数字 shùzì — numeral; digit (individual written symbol)
- 号码 hàomǎ — number (identifier, e.g. phone number, ID number)
- 序号 xùhào — ordinal number; serial number; sequence number
- 第一 dìyī — first; most important; primary; foremost
- 第二 dìèr — second (ordinal); next; secondary; number two
- 第三 dìsān — third (ordinal number; the one in position three)
- 一半 yībàn — half (one of two equal parts)
- 一共 yīgòng — in total; altogether
- 平均 píngjūn — average; on average; evenly; in equal proportions
- 加 jiā — abbr. for Canada (加拿大)
- 减 jiǎn — to lower; to decrease; to reduce; to subtract; to diminish
- 乘 chéng — to ride; to take (a vehicle or transport); to multiply (math)
- 除 chú — to get rid of; to remove; to eliminate; to wipe out
- 等于 děngyú — to equal; to be equivalent to; to amount to
- 大于 dàyú — greater than; bigger than; more than (used to compare quantities or values)
- 小于 xiǎoyú — be less than; (mathematical) <
- 百分比 bǎifēnbǐ — percentage; proportion expressed as a fraction of 100
- 成倍 chéngbèi — twofold; manyfold; exponentially (by a multiple; increasing by several times)
- 数量 shùliàng — amount; quantity
- 比较 bǐjiào — to compare; to contrast
- 顺序 shùnxù — sequence; order (the arrangement or succession of items)