A Thematic Learning Approach – Learning Numerals in Chinese Characters

Whether you are ordering food, checking the time, paying for groceries, or telling someone your phone number, numerals appear constantly in daily communication.

Mini-Dialogue

A: 请问，你的房间在几楼？(Qǐngwèn, nǐ de fángjiān zài jǐ lóu?)
Excuse me, which floor is your room on?

B: 在八楼，房间号是 815。(Zài bā lóu, fángjiān hào shì bā-yī-wǔ.)
It’s on the 8th floor, room 815.

A: 好的，我明天 8 点 30 分 来找你。(Hǎo de, wǒ míngtiān bā diǎn sānshí fēn lái zhǎo nǐ.)
Okay, I’ll come tomorrow at 8:30.

Even in this short exchange, numbers appear three times: for floors, room numbers, and time. That’s why learning numerals is one of the most practical and immediately useful steps for anyone studying Chinese.

Another reason numerals matter is that the Chinese number system is incredibly logical. Compared with many Indo-European languages, Chinese builds numbers in a highly systematic, almost mathematical way. Many learners find that understanding Chinese numbers improves their number sense and helps them see counting from a new perspective.

Basic Numerals 0–10（零到十）

Chinese numerals begin with a simple and logical set of characters. Learners usually find this part quite accessible, and mastering these basics lays the foundation for all later number structures.

Here is a clear overview of numbers 0–10:

Number	Character	Pinyin
0	零	líng
1	一	yī
2	二	èr
3	三	sān
4	四	sì
5	五	wǔ
6	六	liù
7	七	qī
8	八	bā
9	九	jiǔ
10	十	shí

Tone Change Rules for “一 (yī)”

The pronunciation of 一 (yī) changes depending on the tone that follows it. Before a 4th-tone word, it becomes yí; before 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tones, it becomes yì. However, when numbers are read in sequence (such as counting “一、二、三”), the tone remains yī.

For more detailed rules and examples, you can refer to:  The Tone Changes Rules of “一”

When to Use 二 (èr) vs. 两 (liǎng)

Chinese has two ways to say “2,” but they are used differently:

Use 二 (èr) for numbers, floors, phone numbers, and reading years.
e.g., 二楼, 二〇二五年

Use 两 (liǎng) before measure words, people, objects, and time words.
e.g., 两个人, 两点

For a detailed explanation, see: The Major Differences Between 两(liǎng) and 二(èr)

Numbers 11–99 — The Logic

Once you know the numbers from 1 to 10, building numbers from 11 to 99 becomes surprisingly straightforward. Chinese uses a consistent tens-and-ones structure, simply combining the word for “ten” (十) with the relevant digits.

Numbers from 11 to 19 start with 十 (shí). Instead of saying “ten and one,” Chinese simply places the ones digit after 十:

• 11 = 十一 (“ten-one”)
• 12 = 十二 (“ten-two”)
• …
• 19 = 十九

For the tens—20, 30, 40, and so on—Chinese uses “digit + 十”:

• 20 = 二十
• 30 = 三十
• 40 = 四十

To form the rest of the numbers, just add the ones digit:

• 21 = 二十一
• 35 = 三十五
• 48 = 四十八

This consistent structure allows learners to form any number up to 99 without memorizing additional forms or exceptions.

Hundreds, Thousands, Ten-thousands

As numbers grow larger, Chinese continues to follow clear and logical patterns. However, one major difference sets Chinese apart from English: the grouping system. While English organizes numbers by thousands (1,000 → 1 million → 1 billion), Chinese groups them by ten-thousands (万).

Hundreds and Thousands

Numbers in the hundreds and thousands follow a simple “digit + unit” pattern:

• 300 → 三百
• 3,000 → 三千
• 3,500 → 三千五百
• 305 → 三百零五 (notice the 零)

A key point is that Chinese does not use “and” the way English does. Where English says “three hundred and five,” Chinese simply says 三百零五, inserting 零 only when a place value is skipped.

The Super-Important Unit: 万 (10,000)

The concept of 万 (wàn) is essential for understanding larger numbers.
In Chinese:

• 10,000 = 1 万
• 100,000 = 10 万
• 1,000,000 = 100 万
• 10,000,000 = 1,000 万
• 100,000,000 = 1 亿
• 1,000,000,000 = 10 亿

This ten-thousand grouping may feel unfamiliar at first, but it actually makes reading large numbers more efficient.

Using 零 in Large Numbers

In big numbers, 零 is used only when you skip a place value.
Some general guidelines:

• Insert 零 once when one or more middle digits are missing.
• Do not repeat 零 even if multiple places are skipped.
• Do not put 零 at the end of the number.

Examples:

• 10,004 → 一万零四
• 40,070 → 四万零七十
• 408,500 → 四十八万八千五百
• 4,080,000 → 四百零八万

Forgetting 零 is a common learner error, but using it correctly helps keep the structure clear.

How to Read Very Large Numbers

Let’s take a larger example to see how everything fits together.
Consider the number:

123,456,789

In English, it goes like: 123 million, 456 thousand, 789.

In Chinese, break it into 亿 and 万: 1亿2345万6789

This structure feels natural once you get used to the grouping.

Ordinal Numbers（序数词）

Forming ordinal numbers in Chinese is wonderfully simple. Unlike English, which uses different endings such as “-st,” “-nd,” and “-th,” Chinese uses one consistent pattern. To turn a cardinal number (one, two, three) into an ordinal number (first, second, third), you simply place the prefix 第 (dì) in front of the number.

The formula is:

第 + number

This rule applies across most contexts, including pages, dates, rankings, and repeated actions.

Here are a few common examples:

• 第一页 — the first page
• 第二次 — the second time
• 第三名 — third place / third rank

Because the structure never changes, learners can easily apply this pattern to any number, from the very simple to the very large.

Fractions, Decimals, Percentages

Beyond basic counting, Chinese also has straightforward ways to express fractions, decimals, and percentages. These forms appear frequently in daily life—in prices, math class, recipes, measurements, and statistics—so having a basic understanding of how they work can be very helpful.

Fractions（分数）

Fractions in Chinese follow the structure:

denominator + 分之 + numerator

This order is the reverse of English.

For example:

• ¼ = 四分之一
  (“four parts of one”)

Decimals（小数）

Decimals use the word 点 (diǎn) to read the decimal point, and each digit after the point is read individually.

• 3.14 = 三点一四
  (literally “three point one four”)

Percentages（百分比）

Percentages are expressed using:

百分之 + number

For example:

• 10% = 百分之十

This structure works for any percentage, including two-digit and decimal percentages.

For related expressions, such as approximate numbers and ranges, you may refer to: Practical Mandarin: Essential Ways to Express Approximate Numbers

Numbers in Dates, Time, Money, Phone Numbers

Numbers appear constantly in contexts such as dates, time, prices, and contact information. Chinese uses simple and consistent patterns in all of these areas.

Dates（日期）

Chinese dates follow the order year → month → day, which is the same sequence used in many official formats.

·   2025年9月18日
Read literally as “èr líng èr wǔ nián, jiǔ yuè, shí bā rì.”

A key point is that years are read digit by digit, not grouped:cc

·   1998年 → 一九九八年

Months and days follow regular cardinal numbers.

By adding the character 月 (yuè) to a numeral from one to twelve, you can form the names of the months:

• 一月 (yī yuè) – January
• 二月 (èr yuè) – February
• ……
• 十一月 (shíyī yuè) – November
• 十二月(shí’èr yuè) – December

To express the day of the month, use the character 日 (rì) or 号(hào). For example:

• 六月三日 (liù yuè sān rì) – June 3
• 十月二十九号 (shí yuè èr shí jiǔ hào) – October 29

Time（时间）

Telling time in Chinese is very systematic. The basic structure is:

number + 点 + minutes + 分

Examples:

• 3:05 → 三点零五分
• 3:30 → 三点半 or 三点三十分
• 8:15 → 八点一刻 or 八点十五分

Both the colloquial forms (半, 一刻) and the full numeric forms are correct; learners will hear both in daily life.

Money（钱）

Chinese currency expressions use three main units:

• 块 / 元 (kuài / yuán) — basic unit
• 毛 / 角 (máo / jiǎo) — 1/10 of a yuan
• 分 (fēn) — 1/100 of a yuan

A common spoken pattern is:

2.50 → 两块五 / 两块五毛

Notice how the last unit (毛 or 元) can be dropped when the meaning is clear from context, especially in informal speech.

Phone Numbers（电话号码）

Phone numbers in Chinese are read digit by digit, without grouping.

·   135 7924 6801 → yī-sān-wǔ qī-jiǔ-èr-sì liù-bā-líng-yī

In this context, the number “1” is often pronounced as “yāo”, especially to avoid confusion between similar-sounding digits. This pronunciation is used mainly in phone numbers, ID numbers, room numbers, and similar strings of digits.

Cultural Notes

Numbers carry strong cultural meanings in Chinese. Many beliefs are based on pronunciation or wordplay, and they influence everything from daily greetings to major life decisions.

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers

Some numbers are considered especially lucky or unlucky because of how they sound:

• 8 (八 bā) — a very lucky number. It sounds like 发 (fā), meaning to prosper or to become wealthy. This is why many people like phone numbers, addresses, or license plates with lots of 8s.
• 4 (四 sì) — often avoided because it sounds like 死 (sǐ), meaning death. Buildings might skip the 4th floor, and people may avoid choosing this number for important occasions.

Number Combinations

Numbers can also form meaningful expressions when combined. These are especially popular online, in messages, or between couples:

• 520 → wǔ èr líng → 我爱你（I love you）
  The pronunciation resembles the phrase “I love you.”
• 1314 → yī sān yī sì → 一生一世（forever / for a lifetime）
  Often paired with 520 as a romantic message: 520 1314 = “Love you forever.”

These combinations show how numbers can function almost like words in modern digital communication.

Idioms with Numbers

Chinese is full of idioms that include numbers.

• 一心一意 — wholeheartedly, with single-minded devotion
• 三心二意 — to be indecisive or distracted
• 五花八门 — diverse, varied, or dazzling in variety

A deeper dive into idioms with numbers can be found here: 13 Commonly Used Chinese Idioms With NUMBERS