Numbers 1 To 100 In Chinese: Exclusive Guide For Beginners

# WuKong Education Review # WuKong Chinese Review

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Last updated: 01/14/2026

Learning a language opens new opportunities for others, and when it comes to Chinese, having a grip on the basics is necessary. Numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese play an important role in learning the fundamentals. Chinese has a unique system of numbers that expresses linguistic importance and culture.

Whether you are a student, traveler, or eager to learn, these can help you communicate well in Chinese. This blog post is a comprehensive guide to help you understand Chinese numbers and their cultural significance. We broke down each number to clarify and memorize the number effectively.

If you’re looking for a structured and engaging way to master Mandarin fundamentals like numbers, WuKong Chinese offers age-appropriate, interactive lessons led by experienced teachers. As part of WuKong Education, we empower students around the world to build strong language skills and cultural understanding from the ground up.

Basic Numbers 1-10 in Chinese

These are the numerals to exhibit and written in Chinese characters. Unlike the Arabic numeral system, these numbers have distinct symbols. These numbers are used for counting, measuring, or specifying any quantity in Chinese. There are Chinese characters that represent these numbers from zero to nine and multiple tens.

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin	Pronunciation Tip
1	一	yī	“ee” as in “see”
2	二	èr	“ar” with a falling tone
3	三	sān	“sahn” with a high tone
4	四	sì	“ss” sound, sharp falling tone
5	五	wǔ	“woo” with a rising tone
6	六	liù	“lee-oh” with a falling tone
7	七	qī	“chee” with a high tone
8	八	bā	“bah” with a high tone
9	九	jiǔ	“jyo” with a rising tone
10	十	shí	“shr” as in “shirt”

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It evolves the complex combinations of representing the Numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese. It also reflects the historical perspective, like counting rods or decimal structures used in Chinese mathematics. Thus, understanding Chinese numbers will provide a fundamental way to learn measuring terms and counting.

Building Numbers 11-100 in Chinese

Learning Chinese numbers is complex for the first 9 numbers. Thus, you need to focus more on the initial step. These things make the Chinese numbers complex as well as simple to learn. However, the following are the numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese characters. After learning numbers 1-9, you need to focus on the tenth value, such as 10, 20, 30, 40, and so on.

The Chinese character 十 (shí) represents the number ten. Its pronunciation is straightforward, with the tone being a rising one, similar to the “shr” sound in “shirt.” A helpful tip is to note that 十 is also used in combination with other digits to form numbers like twenty (二十, èr shí), thirty (三十, sān shí), and so on. The number ten marks the beginning of a new place value, so understanding 十 is crucial when learning numbers. It’s also used in expressions like 十年 (shí nián) for “ten years.”

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin	Pronunciation Tip
11	十一	shí yī	“ten one”
12	十二	shí èr	“ten two”
13	十三	shí sān	“ten three”
14	十四	shí sì	“ten four”
15	十五	shí wǔ	“ten five”
16	十六	shí liù	“ten six”
17	十七	shí qī	“ten seven”
18	十八	shí bā	“ten eight”
19	十九	shí jiǔ	“ten nine”
20	二十	èr shí	“two ten”
21	二十一	èr shí yī	“two ten one”
22	二十二	èr shí èr	“two ten two”
23	二十三	èr shí sān	“two ten three”
24	二十四	èr shí sì	“two ten four”
25	二十五	èr shí wǔ	“two ten five”
26	二十六	èr shí liù	“two ten six”
27	二十七	èr shí qī	“two ten seven”
28	二十八	èr shí bā	“two ten eight”
29	二十九	èr shí jiǔ	“two ten nine”
30	三十	sān shí	“three ten”
31	三十一	sān shí yī	“three ten one”
32	三十二	sān shí èr	“three ten two”
33	三十三	sān shí sān	“three ten three”
34	三十四	sān shí sì	“three ten four”
35	三十五	sān shí wǔ	“three ten five”
36	三十六	sān shí liù	“three ten six”
37	三十七	sān shí qī	“three ten seven”
38	三十八	sān shí bā	“three ten eight”
39	三十九	sān shí jiǔ	“three ten nine”
40	四十	sì shí	“four ten”
41	四十一	sì shí yī	“four ten one”
42	四十二	sì shí èr	“four ten two”
43	四十三	sì shí sān	“four ten three”
44	四十四	sì shí sì	“four ten four”
45	四十五	sì shí wǔ	“four ten five”
46	四十六	sì shí liù	“four ten six”
47	四十七	sì shí qī	“four ten seven”
48	四十八	sì shí bā	“four ten eight”
49	四十九	sì shí jiǔ	“four ten nine”
50	五十	wǔ shí	“five ten”
51	五十一	wǔ shí yī	“five ten one”
52	五十二	wǔ shí èr	“five ten two”
53	五十三	wǔ shí sān	“five ten three”
54	五十四	wǔ shí sì	“five ten four”
55	五十五	wǔ shí wǔ	“five ten five”
56	五十六	wǔ shí liù	“five ten six”
57	五十七	wǔ shí qī	“five ten seven”
58	五十八	wǔ shí bā	“five ten eight”
59	五十九	wǔ shí jiǔ	“five ten nine”
60	六十	liù shí	“six ten”
61	六十一	liù shí yī	“six ten one”
62	六十二	liù shí èr	“six ten two”
63	六十三	liù shí sān	“six ten three”
64	六十四	liù shí sì	“six ten four”
65	六十五	liù shí wǔ	“six ten five”
66	六十六	liù shí liù	“six ten six”
67	六十七	liù shí qī	“six ten seven”
68	六十八	liù shí bā	“six ten eight”
69	六十九	liù shí jiǔ	“six ten nine”
70	七十	qī shí	“seven ten”
71	七十一	qī shí yī	“seven ten one”
72	七十二	qī shí èr	“seven ten two”
73	七十三	qī shí sān	“seven ten three”
74	七十四	qī shí sì	“seven ten four”
75	七十五	qī shí wǔ	“seven ten five”
76	七十六	qī shí liù	“seven ten six”
77	七十七	qī shí qī	“seven ten seven”
78	七十八	qī shí bā	“seven ten eight”
79	七十九	qī shí jiǔ	“seven ten nine”
80	八十	bā shí	“eight ten”
81	八十一	bā shí yī	“eight ten one”
82	八十二	bā shí èr	“eight ten two”
83	八十三	bā shí sān	“eight ten three”
84	八十四	bā shí sì	“eight ten four”
85	八十五	bā shí wǔ	“eight ten five”
86	八十六	bā shí liù	“eight ten six”
87	八十七	bā shí qī	“eight ten seven”
88	八十八	bā shí bā	“eight ten
89	八十九	bā shí jiǔ	“eight ten nine”
90	九十	jiǔ shí	“nine ten”
91	九十一	jiǔ shí yī	“nine ten one”
92	九十二	jiǔ shí èr	“nine ten two”
93	九十三	jiǔ shí sān	“nine ten three”
94	九十四	jiǔ shí sì	“nine ten four”
95	九十五	jiǔ shí wǔ	“nine ten five”
96	九十六	jiǔ shí liù	“nine ten six”
97	九十七	jiǔ shí qī	“nine ten seven”
98	九十八	jiǔ shí bā	“nine ten eight”
99	九十九	jiǔ shí jiǔ	“nine ten nine”
100	一百	yī bǎi	“one hundred”

Large Numbers 100-10000 in Chinese

100-1000 Chinese numbers

The character 百 (bǎi) means “hundred” and is pronounced with a third tone on bǎi, which sounds similar to the English “buy” but with a falling-rising tone. 百 is used to form numbers in the hundreds, like two hundred (二百, èr bǎi) and three hundred (三百, sān bǎi). When followed by tens and ones, it’s essential to understand how the number structures work in Chinese. For example, two hundred thirty-five would be written as 二百三十五 (èr bǎi sān shí wǔ), where 百 separates the hundreds from the lower digits.

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin	Pronunciation Tip
100	一百	yī bǎi	“one hundred”
200	二百	èr bǎi	“two hundred”
300	三百	sān bǎi	“three hundred”
400	四百	sì bǎi	“four hundred”
500	五百	wǔ bǎi	“five hundred”
600	六百	liù bǎi	“six hundred”
700	七百	qī bǎi	“seven hundred”
800	八百	bā bǎi	“eight hundred”
900	九百	jiǔ bǎi	“nine hundred”
1000	一千	yī qiān	“one thousand”

1000-10000 Chinese numbers

The Chinese character 千 (qiān) means “thousand” and is pronounced with a first tone, sounding like “chee-ahn.” This number is used to express thousands and often appears in larger numbers such as two thousand (两千, liǎng qiān) or five thousand (五千, wǔ qiān). 千 is often used in more formal or precise contexts, like counting large quantities of people or things. A practical example is 一千零一 (yī qiān líng yī), meaning “1001.” In everyday speech, 千 helps in dividing large numbers into manageable, digestible units.

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin	Pronunciation Tip
1000	一千	yī qiān	“one thousand”
2000	两千	liǎng qiān	“two thousand”
3000	三千	sān qiān	“three thousand”
4000	四千	sì qiān	“four thousand”
5000	五千	wǔ qiān	“five thousand”
6000	六千	liù qiān	“six thousand”
7000	七千	qī qiān	“seven thousand”
8000	八千	bā qiān	“eight thousand”
9000	九千	jiǔ qiān	“nine thousand”
10,000	一万	yī wàn	“ten thousand”

Applications of Learning Numbers 1 To 100 In Chinese

1、Telephone Numbers

In China, phone numbers are commonly read and written in groups of four digits. When giving out a phone number, Chinese speakers typically separate the number into chunks, such as 一三五 (135) or 二零一九 (2019). The pronunciation follows the same basic rules for each digit, so 一 (yī) is still “one,” 三 (sān) is “three,” etc. When you dial a number, it’s essential to clearly separate these groups.

For example:

一三五五六七八九零 (yī sān wǔ wǔ liù qī bā jiǔ líng) means 135567890.

Remember, 零 (líng) represents zero, and it’s used to replace any zeros in a phone number, as seen in 一零零 (yī líng líng) for 100.

2、Shopping

When you’re shopping in China, numbers are crucial for transactions. Prices are typically given in 元 (yuán), the standard unit for Chinese currency, which is equivalent to the dollar. Prices often sound like a string of numbers that you should get used to hearing.

For example:

三十元 (sān shí yuán) means 30 yuan.
一百五十元 (yī bǎi wǔ shí yuán) means 150 yuan.

In markets or shops, haggling is common, and understanding numbers up to 几百 (jǐ bǎi) or 几千 (jǐ qiān) is helpful. Often, a shopkeeper will say the price, and you’ll need to either accept it or negotiate.

Additionally, when buying something, you might encounter phrases like:

打折 (dǎ zhé) – discount
便宜点 (pián yí diǎn) – make it cheaper

Knowing how to count money and ask for discounts is key in making purchases.

3、Expressing Time

Time in Chinese can be a little tricky, as it combines 小时 (xiǎo shí, hour) and 分钟 (fēn zhōng, minute) for the time in hours and minutes. However, for the 24-hour clock system, 点 (diǎn) is often used to indicate the hour.

Examples:

三点 (sān diǎn) – 3:00
下午五点半 (xià wǔ wǔ diǎn bàn) – 5:30 PM

To express minutes, Chinese uses 分钟 (fēn zhōng), so 十分钟 (shí fēn zhōng) means “10 minutes.” Here’s an example for a complete time expression:

十点二十分钟 (shí diǎn èr shí fēn zhōng) – 10:20

When dealing with time in the 12-hour system, 上午 (shàng wǔ, AM) or 下午 (xià wǔ, PM) are used to distinguish morning and afternoon times.

4、Common Numeral Idioms

In Chinese culture, numbers are frequently used in idioms or proverbs. Some numbers hold symbolic meanings or are part of phrases that convey cultural significance. Here are some popular number-related idioms:

一石二鸟 (yī shí èr niǎo) – “One stone, two birds”
This idiom means “killing two birds with one stone,” suggesting that one action can accomplish two goals.
三心二意 (sān xīn èr yì) – “Three hearts, two intentions”
This phrase refers to someone who is indecisive or distracted, as they cannot focus on one thing.
五花八门 (wǔ huā bā mén) – “Five flowers, eight gates”
This means “a variety of things” or “a wide range of options.”
四海为家 (sì hǎi wéi jiā) – “The four seas are my home”
This expression refers to a person who is free to live anywhere and is not tied to one place.

The number 八 (bā, eight) is considered extremely lucky in Chinese culture because it sounds like the word 发 (fā), meaning wealth or fortune. Many Chinese people try to incorporate this number into their lives, especially for events like weddings or businesses, where they want to attract good luck.

5、Age (年龄)

When asking about someone’s age in Chinese, it’s straightforward. The question “How old are you?” is typically phrased as:

你几岁了？ (nǐ jǐ suì le?) for younger children.
你多大了？ (nǐ duō dà le?) for adults.

To respond, you simply give the number followed by 岁 (suì) to indicate age. For example:

我二十岁。 (wǒ èr shí suì) – “I am 20 years old.”
他三十岁。 (tā sān shí suì) – “He is 30 years old.”

In Chinese, the number 十 (shí, ten) is often used when speaking about ages in the teen range, such as:

十一岁 (shí yī suì) – “11 years old”
十五岁 (shí wǔ suì) – “15 years old”

Age is considered an important cultural factor, and some Chinese-speaking countries will also ask about someone’s 年纪 (nián jì) in more formal contexts.

Chinese Numbers 1 to 100 Learning Tips

1. Break Numbers into Small Chunks

Chinese numbers follow a very logical system, especially when you understand the way larger numbers are built. Instead of memorizing each number individually, break them down into smaller parts.

1-10 are the foundation. Once you learn 1-10, everything else is built on top of these numbers.
Tens: Once you know how to say 10 (十), you just need to add the number for each decade, like 二十 (èr shí) for twenty, 三十 (sān shí) for thirty, etc.
Ones after tens: The next numbers are simply the tens number + 十 + the single digit. For example, 三十六 (sān shí liù) means “thirty-six.”

2. Master the 1-10 First

Before diving into larger numbers, it’s crucial to be comfortable with 1-10 because:

These are the building blocks of all other numbers.
Numbers 1-10 are used repeatedly in larger numbers, and many of the Chinese characters are reused for different numbers.

3. Use Flashcards

Flashcards are great for memorizing numbers. Write down both the character and the pronunciation on one side, and the English translation on the other. You can use traditional paper flashcards or apps like Anki or Quizlet, which are great for spaced repetition.

For example, 一 (yī) on one side, “One” on the other side.
Practice daily to reinforce these basic number words.

4. Practice Writing the Numbers

Writing numbers in Chinese helps reinforce memory and pronunciation. By practicing the characters, you engage both your visual memory and muscle memory, which helps with recall.

Start with 1-10, then try to write combinations for tens and hundreds.

5. Focus on Patterns

Once you master the basic numbers, you’ll see that Chinese numbers follow consistent patterns:

For 11-19, just add the digits after 十 (shí), which means “ten.” For example, 十六 (shí liù) is “sixteen,” 十七 (shí qī) is “seventeen.”
For 20-99, the number format is: Tens digit + 十 + Ones digit.
- 二十 (èr shí) is “twenty” and 二十六 (èr shí liù) is “twenty-six.”

6. Learn Number Groupings for Higher Numbers

Once you’re comfortable with numbers up to 100, start learning the next set of Chinese number groupings:

百 (bǎi) for hundreds
千 (qiān) for thousands
万 (wàn) for ten thousand
- For example, 一百 (yī bǎi) is “one hundred”, and 一千 (yī qiān) is “one thousand.”

7. Use Numbers in Context

Context is key to mastering any language. Try to use numbers in everyday situations:

Practice saying the time: 现在是三点二十五分 (xiàn zài shì sān diǎn èr shí wǔ fēn) — “It’s 3:25.”
Practice counting things: 五个苹果 (wǔ ge píng guǒ) — “Five apples.”

8. Learn to Pronounce Numbers Correctly

Chinese is a tonal language, so getting the pronunciation right is very important. For example:

四 (sì) means “four” but with a falling tone.
十 (shí) means “ten” with a rising tone.
千 (qiān) means “thousand” with a high tone.
Make sure you’re aware of the tones for each number.

9. Watch Chinese Content and Listen for Numbers

Listening to numbers used in real-life situations can help you understand how they flow naturally in conversations. Watch Chinese videos or listen to podcasts where numbers are frequently mentioned:

Chinese TV shows, news reports, or YouTube videos (e.g., math tutorials, shopping scenes, or time-based events).
Apps like HelloChinese, ChinesePod, or FluentU have dialogues that focus on numbers.

10. Play Games or Use Apps

Interactive games and apps make learning numbers more enjoyable. Use language-learning apps with games built around number practice:

ChineseSkill and WukongChinese have interactive lessons and apps that include numbers.
Online games like number-based quizzes or challenges can make it easier to recall numbers.

11. Keep Practicing and Using Numbers

Finally, consistent practice is key. Whether it’s practicing your math in Chinese, reading prices, or calculating numbers, using Chinese numbers in daily life will help reinforce what you’ve learned.

12.Extra Tip for Higher Numbers:

Chinese uses a system for large numbers that breaks numbers into groups of four digits (such as 十万 (shí wàn) for 100,000, or 百万 (bǎi wàn) for 1,000,000). Learning the Chinese counting units for large numbers will make it easier to understand even higher numbers:

十 (shí) – ten
百 (bǎi) – hundred
千 (qiān) – thousand
万 (wàn) – ten thousand
亿 (yì) – hundred million

13. Common Mistakes for Beginners to Avoid

“Ten” (十) plays a central role in forming numbers after 10.
- For example, 20 is 二十 (èr shí), which literally means “two tens.”
Chinese Number System is Decimal-based:
- The Chinese number system is based on groups of 10, so the structure of numbers is logical and consistent, unlike English, where we sometimes have irregularities (e.g., “eleven,” “twelve”).
No Special Words for “Teen” Numbers:
- Unlike English, where we have words like “teen” in “thirteen,” Chinese numbers follow a regular pattern. For example, 十三 (shí sān) means “ten three” for thirteen.
Pronunciation Variations:
- The pronunciation of numbers can sometimes change slightly depending on context or tone changes, especially in compound numbers.
Important Characters:
- 百 (bǎi) – Hundred
- 千 (qiān) – Thousand (for when you go beyond 100)

FAQs

Q1: What Is 100 In Chinese Pinyin?

In Chinese Pinyin, the representation of the number 100 is “yī bǎi.” The character “一” (yī) stands for one, and “百” (bǎi) represents a hundred. Mastering and understanding numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese are essential and easily memorized with the help of the pinyin system. Only the first nine numbers are hard to learn, after which you need to remember the tenth value.

Q2: How To Write Numbers 1-100 In Chinese

To write numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese, you need to understand the characters. For example, the character “一” (yī) represents one, “二” (èr) is two, and so on. Learn the characters from 1-9 and memorize them effectively. After this, memorize all the tenth values like 十 (shí) is 10. Tens are denoted by adding “十” (shí) after the respective digit, and numbers beyond 10 involve combining the characters for tens, and ones like 21 are 二十一 (èr shí yī).

Q3: How Do You Count Chinese Numbers 1-20?

Counting to 20 in Chinese is an amazing linguistic journey as a beginner. Start with “一” (yī) for one, progressing smoothly to “十” (shí) for ten. As you progress, learn “十一” (shí yī) for eleven and then add each digit with shí till the “二十” (èr shí) is twenty. This linguistic journey not only empowers you with counting skills but also opens the door to Chinese culture.

Q4: What Is 7 In Chinese Pinyin?

In Chinese pinyin, the number 7 is pronounced as “qī.” It is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin, and it helps non-native speakers pronounce Chinese words accurately using the Latin alphabet. Understanding the pronunciation of pinyin helps language learners and promotes effective communication, especially in numerical information like addresses, phone numbers, etc.

Summary

Learning numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese is challenging for a beginner. But you can become proficient if you keep practicing what you have learned. If you want to learn Chinese, you can join the Wukong Chinese language course, which is aimed at students aged 3-18.

Book a free trial class

Start by learning one or two Chinese numbers daily. Practice pronouncing and writing these numbers, which will give you a full grip on them. This comprehensive guide is enough for you if you want to learn numbers 1 to 100 in Chinese.

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Mao Ying | WuKong Chinese Teacher

Master’s degree in International Chinese Education from Peking University. Dedicated to the field of Chinese language education, with 7 years of experience as an international Chinese language teacher.