Numbers
From 一 to 万, 二 against 两, and 第 for order.
Bigger numbers are built the way they are said: 十一 shíyī 11, 二十 èrshí 20, 二十五 èrshíwǔ 25, 九十九 jiǔshíjiǔ 99, 一百 yìbǎi 100, 一千 yìqiān 1,000. A zero inside a number is said 零: 一百零五 yìbǎi líng wǔ 105, 两千零二十六 liǎngqiān líng èrshíliù 2026.
Counting in ten thousands
Chinese groups large numbers by ten thousand, 万 wàn, not by thousand: 一万 yíwàn is 10,000, 十万 shíwàn 100,000, and 一百万 yìbǎiwàn a million. A hundred million is 亿 yì.
- Zhège chéngshì yǒu sānbǎiwàn rén.This city has three million people.
二 or 两
二 èr is for counting, in numbers and for "second". Before a measure word, "two" is 两 liǎng: 两个人, 两本书. 两 is also usual before 千 and 万: 两千.
- Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge háizi.I have two children.
First, second: 第
第 dì before a number makes it an ordinal: 第一 "first", 第二 "second", 第三次 "the third time".
- Zhè shì wǒ dì-yī cì lái Zhōngguó.This is my first time in China.
Phone and room numbers
Phone, room and bus numbers are read digit by digit, and 1 is often said yāo, so it can't be mistaken for 七 qī.
- Wǒ zhù zài sān yāo bā hào fángjiān.I'm staying in room 318.
Cards from this guide
9 cardsEach card asks about one thing this guide teaches, and its back gives the answer with why and an example. They're reviewed with the rest of the Numbers, time and money cards.
How do you say 20?
二十 (èrshí).
How do you say 10,000?
一万 (yíwàn).
How do you say 100,000?
十万 (shíwàn): ten ten-thousands.
How do you say "two books"?
两本书 (liǎng běn shū).
How do you say "the first time"?
第一次 (dì-yī cì).
How do you say 105?
一百零五 (yìbǎi líng wǔ).
How is 1 often said in phone and room numbers?
yāo.
How do you say a million?
一百万 (yìbǎiwàn): a hundred ten-thousands.
What number is 亿 (yì)?
A hundred million.