{"id":1566,"date":"2021-11-22T10:44:38","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T02:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/?p=1566"},"modified":"2023-08-15T12:46:39","modified_gmt":"2023-08-15T04:46:39","slug":"chinese-numbers-1-to-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.maayot.com\/blog\/chinese-numbers-1-to-10\/","title":{"rendered":"Counting in Chinese: Easy Learning from 1 to 10"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, Chinese people use Chinese numbers and Arabic numbers to count and record in their daily lives. While the Chinese alphabet<\/a> could be a bit challenging to learn, the good news is that numbers are easy<\/em>! Once you master them, you can tell the time, date and even ask for a number from someone you like. So, let’s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simplified and Traditional Chinese Numbers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are two forms of writings for Chinese numbers, which are the Simplified and Traditional forms. They are the same in pronunciations but different in writing, similar to capitalization in English. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Simplified Form<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
These numbers are named as lowercase form \u5c0f\u5199 (xi\u01ceoxi\u011b), which are geometrically simple to write. The Chinese people widely use them during daily activities. If you are new to the Chinese language, it is more than enough to master the Simplified Chinese numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Traditional Form<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
They are also called the uppercase form \u5927\u5199(d\u00e0xi\u011b). These writings are slightly more challenging to write and used lesser in daily lives. They are usually written to state the amounts in financial systems to prevent falsifications on numbers, thus called “anti-fraud numerals.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For instance, 1,000 dollars in the Simplified Chinese numbers would be \u4e00\u5343 (y\u012bqi\u0101n). If you are writing a cheque, forgers can easily modify them to \u4e09\u5343(s\u0101nqi\u0101n) – 3,000 with two strokes. No way we want that! That’s where the Traditional Chinese numbers come in, which is impossible to modify \u58f9\u4edf (y\u012bqi\u0101n) to \u53c1 \u4edf<\/a>(s\u0101nqi\u0101n).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Simplified Chinese is easy to write.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How to Count 1 to 10 in Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
In Chinese, the numbers are pretty logical and straightforward to learn. The numbers 1-10 are monosyllables with up to 5 strokes per character for the simplified form. You might find them interesting, as each conveys superstitions related to some words that sound similar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wait no more, let’s start counting! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Number<\/strong> <\/th> Simplified <\/strong>
Chinese<\/strong> <\/th> Traditional <\/strong>
Chinese<\/strong> <\/th> Pinyin<\/strong> <\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1<\/td> \u4e00<\/td> \u58f9<\/td> y\u012b<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td> \u4e8c<\/td> \u8d30<\/td> \u00e8r<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td> \u4e09<\/td> \u53c1<\/td> s\u0101n<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td> \u56db<\/td> \u8086<\/td> s\u00ec<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td> \u4e94<\/td> \u4f0d<\/td> w\u01d4<\/td><\/tr>
6<\/td> \u516d<\/td> \u9678<\/td> li\u00f9<\/td><\/tr>
7<\/td> \u4e03<\/td> \u67d2<\/td> q\u012b<\/td><\/tr>
8<\/td> \u516b<\/td> \u634c<\/td> b\u0101<\/td><\/tr>
9<\/td> \u4e5d<\/td> \u7396<\/td> ji\u01d4<\/td><\/tr>
10<\/td> \u5341<\/td> \u62fe<\/td> sh\u00ed<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u4e00(y\u012b) – One(1) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It is pretty simple with only one stroke. Just imagine it as the lying Arabic number 1! It could sound like \u4e03(q\u012b) – Seven(7) when you speak fast in Chinese. So, you can speak \u5e7a (y\u0101o) instead to recite a sequence of numbers. For instance, to read 152, you say y\u0101o w\u01d4 \u00e8r.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e8c(\u00e8r) – Two(2)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Similar to \u4e00(y\u012b), except it comes in two strokes for \u4e8c(\u00e8r), makes sense right? Both \u4e8c(\u00e8r) and \u4e24(li\u01ceng) mean two(2) in Chinese. \u4e8c(\u00e8r) is usually used for numbers like phone numbers and bank account numbers. Use \u4e24(li\u01ceng) if you want to talk about the quantity of something. For example: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e8c\u5341\u4e8c (\u00e8rsh\u00ed’\u00e8r): twenty-two <\/li>
\u4e24\u4e2a\u4eba (li\u01ceng g\u00e8r\u00e9n): two people <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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\u4e09(s\u0101n) – Three(3)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Just add another stroke to make \u4e09(s\u0101n), like how we write \u4e00(y\u012b) and \u4e8c(\u00e8r). It sounds like \u751f (sh\u0113ng), which has a positive connotation with the meaning of “life.” Chinese culture cherishes longevity and prosperity a lot, so you see how good \u4e09(s\u0101n) means!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u56db(s\u00ec) – Four(4) <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Now, this is a bit special. \u56db(s\u00ec) is written as a mouth \u53e3 surrounding the \u513f(it looks a bit like \u516b(b\u0101) – number 8). Just like number 13 in the West, \u56db(s\u00ec) signifies bad luck, as it sounds similar to \u6b7b(s\u01d0) \u2013 “death.” Avoid giving people four of something as a gift, like four pieces of fruits. Buildings and houses usually skip number 4 in the house or floor numbering too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u4e94(w\u01d4) – Five(5)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Literally, you are adding two strokes on top of \u4e09(s\u0101n), one long and one short. There are five intersecting points in this character. It is positive as many Chinese traditional concepts are associated with \u4e94(w\u01d4), like feng shui and music. However, sometimes it is the opposite since it sounds like \u65e0(w\u00fa), which means “without” or “no.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u516d(li\u00f9) – Six(6)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It is the combination of \u4ea0 on top of \u516b(b\u0101) – number 8. In most cases, \u516d(li\u00f9) is considered lucky as it sounds like \u6d41 (li\u00fa), meaning “flow” or \u6e9c(li\u016b) meaning “smooth.” It also conveys the meaning of “happiness” or “fortune” when spoken in Cantonese (Cantonese Yale: lok6). With the positive significance, businesses always use it for it is a good number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u4e03(q\u012b) – Seven(7)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4e03(q\u012b) is easy to write with just two strokes, and it gives both positive and negative meaning in Chinese culture. On the good side, it sounds similar to \u8d77 (q\u01d0) and \u6c14 (q\u00ec), meaning “rise” and “vital energy.” On the contrary, it may imply bad luck with similar pronunciation to \u6b3a(q\u012b), which means “cheat.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u516b(b\u0101) – Eight(8)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
When you removed the \u53e3 from \u56db(s\u00ec), it becomes \u516b(b\u0101). In oppose to \u56db(s\u00ec), Chinese number \u516b(b\u0101) is considered the luckiest number, and people tend to incorporate 8 in their daily life and business. People also use \u516b to greet and wish others as it sounds like \u53d1(f\u0101), meaning “wealth” and “prosperity” – everyone loves \u53d1!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u4e5d(ji\u01d4) – Nine(9)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\u4e5d(ji\u01d4) is the ultimate and supreme digit in the Chinese culture. In ancient China, 9 is exclusively for the Chinese emperors, and Chinese emperors are called \u4e5d\u4e94\u4e4b\u5c0a(ji\u01d4w\u01d4 zh\u012b z\u016bn). \u4e5d(ji\u01d4) represents “longevity” and “eternity” for it sounds like \u4e45 (ji\u01d4) with those meanings. People often use \u4e5d for wedding and birthday wishes for the significance of “long-lasting.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u5341(sh\u00ed) – Ten (10)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
10 in Chinese is just a horizontal and a vertical stroke – super easy to write. In Chinese culture, \u5341(sh\u00ed) symbolizes reunion and satisfaction. We say \u5341\u5206(sh\u00edf\u0113n) which means extremely, and \u5341\u5168\u5341\u7f8e(sh\u00edqu\u00e1nsh\u00edm\u011bi), implying everything goes perfect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chinese Classifiers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now that you’ve learned the numbers 1-10, but you will need some classifiers to use along with numbers in counting. Classifiers are also called Chinese measure words or counter words, where we add in between a number and a noun to combine them. They are similar to how we categorize words in English, such as “a cup of <\/strong>tea” and “three pairs of<\/strong> socks.” You should not eliminate them, nor are they interchangeable. If in doubt, use \u4e2a(g\u00e8) as it is a generic measure word, and many understand it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are some examples of common Chinese counters used:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Classifier <\/th> Pinyin <\/th> Use <\/th> Example <\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
\u53cc <\/td> shu\u0101ng <\/td> A pair of things <\/td> \u4e00\u53cc\u624b (y\u012b shu\u0101ngsh\u01d2u) – a pair of hands <\/td><\/tr>
\u676f <\/td> b\u0113i <\/td> For cups or glasses of drinks <\/td> \u4e09\u676f\u8336 (s\u0101n b\u0113i ch\u00e1) – three cups of tea <\/td><\/tr>
\u53ea <\/td> zh\u012b <\/td> Animals, utensils, one of a pair, etc <\/td> \u4e24\u53ea\u9e21 (li\u01ceng zh\u012b j\u012b) – two chickens <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
I know they are interesting – more or less like how we use them in English. But we’re focusing more on basic numbers in this article. If you are keen to learn more, Maayot <\/a>has daily bite-size and engaging stories to boost your Chinese! <\/p>\n\n\n\n