If you have ever been afraid that learning Chinese numbers means memorizing hundreds of words, here is the good news: Chinese counting is astonishingly logical. Once you know the numbers from 1 to 10, you can build every number up to 99 with a handful of simple rules — no irregular “eleven,” “twelve,” or “fifteen” to trip you up.
This guide covers the numbers 1 to 100, the pronunciation, the few rules that make them easy, and where you will actually use them in daily life in China.
The Foundation: 1 to 10
Every Chinese number starts with these ten basic words:
| Number | 汉字 | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
A quick note: 4 (sì) sounds very close to the word for “death” (sǐ), which is why many Chinese avoid it — you will rarely see a fourth floor in hospitals or hotels, and phone numbers full of 4s are often passed over. By contrast, 8 (bā) sounds like the word for “prosper” (fā), making it a lucky, sought-after number.
11 to 19: “Ten + One” and So On
This is where Chinese becomes wonderfully simple. To say 11 through 19, you just say “ten” followed by the single digit:
- 11 = 十一 (shí yī, “ten one”)
- 12 = 十二 (shí èr)
- 15 = 十五 (shí wǔ)
- 19 = 十九 (shí jiǔ)
There is no special word for “eleven” or “twelve.” You simply stack them.
The Tens: 20 to 99
For numbers 20 and above, the logic is: digit + 十 (ten) + digit.
- 20 = 二十 (èr shí, “two ten”)
- 30 = 三十 (sān shí)
- 45 = 四十五 (sì shí wǔ, “four ten five”)
- 67 = 六十七 (liù shí qī)
- 99 = 九十九 (jiǔ shí jiǔ)
That is the entire system. Once you know 1-10 and the word 十 (shí) for “ten,” you can count from 1 to 99 with zero exceptions.
100: 一百 (Yī Bǎi)
The word for “hundred” is 百 (bǎi), so 100 is 一百 (yī bǎi). Following the same stacking logic, 101 is 一百零一 (yī bǎi líng yī), where 零 (líng, “zero”) fills the empty tens place, and 250 is 二百五十 (èr bǎi wǔ shí).
Two Important Pronunciations: 一 (Yī) and 不
When you speak numbers quickly, two words change their tone depending on what follows:
- 一 (yī, “one”) is pronounced yī on its own, but becomes yí (rising tone) before a fourth-tone word like 四 (sì) — so 14 is shí yí sì — and becomes yì (falling tone) before other tones, as in 一百 yí bǎi or 11 shí yí.
- 不 (bù, “not”) also shifts to bú before a fourth-tone word, as in 不是 (bú shì, “is not”).
These tone changes happen naturally and you do not need to force them — just be aware that “one” does not always sound exactly like yī.
Where You Will Actually Use Numbers
Numbers are everywhere in daily Chinese life, and a little practice goes a long way:
- Prices: 多少钱? (duōshao qián?, “how much?”) and 十块 (shí kuài, “ten yuan”) — kuài (块) is the everyday word for a yuan.
- Phone numbers: Chinese phone numbers are read digit by digit, with 1 (at the start) read as yāo instead of yī, to avoid confusion with 7 (qī). So a number starting 138 is “yāo-sān-bā.”
- Addresses and floors: 三楼 (sān lóu, “third floor”) — but remember, buildings often skip the fourth floor entirely.
- Dates and time: 三月 (sān yuè, “March”), 三点 (sān diǎn, “three o’clock”).
- Counting items: You will hear 一个 (yí gè), 两个 (liǎng gè), 三个 (sān gè) — where the measure word 个 (gè) attaches to the number.
A Note on 二 (Èr) vs. 两 (Liǎng)
Both mean “two,” but they are used differently. 二 (èr) is used for counting, math, and building larger numbers (20 is èr shí). 两 (liǎng) is used before measure words and when counting objects: 两个人 (liǎng gè rén, “two people”), 两杯茶 (liǎng bēi chá, “two cups of tea”). If you say èr gè rén, it sounds a little off to native speakers.
There are a few other quirks worth knowing. When giving your phone number, the digit 1 is read as 幺 (yāo), not yī, because yī and qī (7) sound too similar on a bad line — so a number starting 138 is yāo-sān-bā. In prices, the measure word 块 (kuài) is the everyday word for a yuan, and 毛 (máo) is a tenth of a yuan (10 cents). So 十五块五 (shí wǔ kuài wǔ) means “15.5 yuan.” Understanding these small habits makes real conversations much smoother than textbook Chinese ever will.
Numbers Beyond 100
Once you have mastered 1 to 100, the next steps follow the same logic. 一千 (yī qiān) is a thousand, 一万 (yí wàn) is ten thousand, and 一百万 (yī bǎi wàn) is one million. One thing that trips up many learners: Chinese groups large numbers in units of ten thousand (wàn, 万), not thousand. So 10,000 is yí wàn (one 万), and 100,000 is shí wàn (ten 万). When a Chinese speaker says 两万 (liǎng wàn, “two 万”), they mean 20,000 — a number Western learners often misread at first. Once you get used to this, prices, populations, and salaries all fall into place.
Practice Makes It Stick
Here is a fast way to lock in the system: count up from 1 to 100 out loud a few times, focusing on the tens. When you hit 十 (shí), 二十 (èr shí), 三十 (sān shí)… 九十 (jiǔ shí), you will feel the pattern click. Then practice reading prices and phone numbers, and you will be counting like a local in no time.
Numbers are just the beginning of useful everyday Chinese. To round out your practical vocabulary, see our guides on how to say thank you, how to say goodbye, and the cultural meaning of lucky and unlucky numbers. If you are also picking a Chinese name, our Chinese name guide is a great next step.
