Chinese Numbers 1-100: Complete Guide with Pronunciation

Numbers are one of the first things you should learn in any language, and Chinese is no exception. The good news is that the Chinese number system is remarkably logical. Once you learn the numbers 1 through 10, you can construct every number up to 99 using simple, predictable patterns. There are no irregular forms like English "eleven" or "twelve" -- everything follows the same formula.

In this guide, we will walk through numbers 1 to 10 in detail, explain the pattern for building 11 through 99, cover numbers 100 and beyond, give you a complete reference table for numbers 1 to 100, and explore cultural meanings, practical uses, and common mistakes.

Numbers 1 to 10: The Foundation

These ten characters are the building blocks for all Chinese numbers. Every number from 1 to 99 is formed by combining these characters, so learning them thoroughly is essential.

一 (yi) -- One. This is a single horizontal stroke. The tone changes depending on context: it is first tone (yi) when counting, but changes to second tone (yi) before a fourth-tone word, and fourth tone (yi) before first, second, or third-tone words. This tone sandhi rule is important for natural pronunciation.

二 (er) -- Two. Two horizontal strokes. Note that Chinese has two words for "two" -- more on that in the common mistakes section below.

三 (san) -- Three. Three horizontal strokes. This is one of the simplest characters to remember and write.

四 (si) -- Four. This character is considered unlucky in Chinese culture because it sounds similar to 死 (si, "death"). Many buildings in China skip the fourth floor, much like some Western buildings skip the thirteenth.

五 (wu) -- Five. A slightly more complex character, but one you will see constantly.

六 (liu) -- Six. Considered a lucky number meaning "smooth" or "flowing." The phrase 六六大顺 (liu liu da shun) means "everything goes smoothly."

七 (qi) -- Seven. Associated with "togetherness" because it sounds like 齐 (qi, "together").

八 (ba) -- Eight. The luckiest number in Chinese culture because it sounds like 发 (fa) in 发财 (facai, "to get rich"). The Beijing Olympics opening ceremony started at 8:08 PM on 8/8/2008 for this reason.

九 (jiu) -- Nine. Associated with longevity because it sounds like 久 (jiu, "long-lasting"). It is considered especially auspicious for weddings and gifts.

十 (shi) -- Ten. A cross-shaped character that is easy to remember. This character is crucial because it forms the backbone of every number from 11 to 99.

For audio pronunciation of these characters and more, visit our number study tool.

Numbers 11 to 99: The Pattern

Here is where Chinese numbers become beautifully simple. The pattern is purely mathematical:

11 to 19: Ten plus the single digit. 十一 (shiyi) is literally "ten-one" (11). 十二 (shier) is "ten-two" (12). This continues through 十九 (shijiu, 19).

20, 30, 40... 90: The multiplier plus ten. 二十 (ershi) is "two-ten" (20). 三十 (sanshi) is "three-ten" (30). 九十 (jiushi) is "nine-ten" (90).

21 to 99: Combine both patterns. 二十一 (ershiyi) is "two-ten-one" (21). 五十三 (wushisan) is "five-ten-three" (53). 九十九 (jiushijiu) is "nine-ten-nine" (99).

That is the entire system. There are no exceptions, no irregular forms, and no surprises. If you can count to 10, you can count to 99.

Numbers 100 and Beyond

For larger numbers, Chinese introduces new characters at each order of magnitude:

• 百 (bai) -- hundred. 一百 (yibai) is 100. 二百 (erbai) is 200. 三百五十六 (sanbai wushi liu) is 356.
• 千 (qian) -- thousand. 一千 (yiqian) is 1,000. 两千 (liangqian) is 2,000. Note that for 2,000 you use 两 (liang) rather than 二 (er) -- this is one of the important distinctions we cover in the common mistakes section.
• 万 (wan) -- ten thousand. This is where Chinese and English diverge. Chinese has a specific character for 10,000 rather than saying "ten thousand." 一万 (yiwan) is 10,000. 十万 (shiwan) is 100,000 (literally "ten ten-thousands").
• 亿 (yi) -- hundred million. Again, Chinese has a dedicated character for this magnitude. 一亿 (yiyi) is 100,000,000.

The grouping in Chinese is by four digits (ten-thousands) rather than by three digits (thousands) as in English. This means one million is 一百万 (yibaiwan, "one hundred ten-thousands") and one billion is 十亿 (shiyi, "ten hundred-millions"). This difference in grouping is one of the trickiest aspects of translating large numbers between Chinese and English.

Numbers 1 to 100 at a Glance

Here is the complete reference table for Chinese numbers 1 through 100. Bookmark this page and come back whenever you need to look one up.

<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Number</th> <th>Character</th> <th>Pinyin</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr><td>1</td><td>一</td><td>yi</td></tr> <tr><td>2</td><td>二</td><td>er</td></tr> <tr><td>3</td><td>三</td><td>san</td></tr> <tr><td>4</td><td>四</td><td>si</td></tr> <tr><td>5</td><td>五</td><td>wu</td></tr> <tr><td>6</td><td>六</td><td>liu</td></tr> <tr><td>7</td><td>七</td><td>qi</td></tr> <tr><td>8</td><td>八</td><td>ba</td></tr> <tr><td>9</td><td>九</td><td>jiu</td></tr> <tr><td>10</td><td>十</td><td>shi</td></tr> <tr><td>11</td><td>十一</td><td>shiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>12</td><td>十二</td><td>shier</td></tr> <tr><td>13</td><td>十三</td><td>shisan</td></tr> <tr><td>14</td><td>十四</td><td>shisi</td></tr> <tr><td>15</td><td>十五</td><td>shiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>16</td><td>十六</td><td>shiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>17</td><td>十七</td><td>shiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>18</td><td>十八</td><td>shiba</td></tr> <tr><td>19</td><td>十九</td><td>shijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>20</td><td>二十</td><td>ershi</td></tr> <tr><td>21</td><td>二十一</td><td>ershiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>22</td><td>二十二</td><td>ershier</td></tr> <tr><td>23</td><td>二十三</td><td>ershisan</td></tr> <tr><td>24</td><td>二十四</td><td>ershisi</td></tr> <tr><td>25</td><td>二十五</td><td>ershiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>26</td><td>二十六</td><td>ershiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>27</td><td>二十七</td><td>ershiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>28</td><td>二十八</td><td>ershiba</td></tr> <tr><td>29</td><td>二十九</td><td>ershijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>30</td><td>三十</td><td>sanshi</td></tr> <tr><td>31</td><td>三十一</td><td>sanshiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>32</td><td>三十二</td><td>sanshier</td></tr> <tr><td>33</td><td>三十三</td><td>sanshisan</td></tr> <tr><td>34</td><td>三十四</td><td>sanshisi</td></tr> <tr><td>35</td><td>三十五</td><td>sanshiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>36</td><td>三十六</td><td>sanshiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>37</td><td>三十七</td><td>sanshiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>38</td><td>三十八</td><td>sanshiba</td></tr> <tr><td>39</td><td>三十九</td><td>sanshijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>40</td><td>四十</td><td>sishi</td></tr> <tr><td>41</td><td>四十一</td><td>sishiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>42</td><td>四十二</td><td>sishier</td></tr> <tr><td>43</td><td>四十三</td><td>sishisan</td></tr> <tr><td>44</td><td>四十四</td><td>sishisi</td></tr> <tr><td>45</td><td>四十五</td><td>sishiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>46</td><td>四十六</td><td>sishiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>47</td><td>四十七</td><td>sishiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>48</td><td>四十八</td><td>sishiba</td></tr> <tr><td>49</td><td>四十九</td><td>sishijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>50</td><td>五十</td><td>wushi</td></tr> <tr><td>51</td><td>五十一</td><td>wushiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>52</td><td>五十二</td><td>wushier</td></tr> <tr><td>53</td><td>五十三</td><td>wushisan</td></tr> <tr><td>54</td><td>五十四</td><td>wushisi</td></tr> <tr><td>55</td><td>五十五</td><td>wushiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>56</td><td>五十六</td><td>wushiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>57</td><td>五十七</td><td>wushiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>58</td><td>五十八</td><td>wushiba</td></tr> <tr><td>59</td><td>五十九</td><td>wushijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>60</td><td>六十</td><td>liushi</td></tr> <tr><td>61</td><td>六十一</td><td>liushiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>62</td><td>六十二</td><td>liushier</td></tr> <tr><td>63</td><td>六十三</td><td>liushisan</td></tr> <tr><td>64</td><td>六十四</td><td>liushisi</td></tr> <tr><td>65</td><td>六十五</td><td>liushiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>66</td><td>六十六</td><td>liushiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>67</td><td>六十七</td><td>liushiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>68</td><td>六十八</td><td>liushiba</td></tr> <tr><td>69</td><td>六十九</td><td>liushijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>70</td><td>七十</td><td>qishi</td></tr> <tr><td>71</td><td>七十一</td><td>qishiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>72</td><td>七十二</td><td>qishier</td></tr> <tr><td>73</td><td>七十三</td><td>qishisan</td></tr> <tr><td>74</td><td>七十四</td><td>qishisi</td></tr> <tr><td>75</td><td>七十五</td><td>qishiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>76</td><td>七十六</td><td>qishiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>77</td><td>七十七</td><td>qishiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>78</td><td>七十八</td><td>qishiba</td></tr> <tr><td>79</td><td>七十九</td><td>qishijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>80</td><td>八十</td><td>bashi</td></tr> <tr><td>81</td><td>八十一</td><td>bashiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>82</td><td>八十二</td><td>bashier</td></tr> <tr><td>83</td><td>八十三</td><td>bashisan</td></tr> <tr><td>84</td><td>八十四</td><td>bashisi</td></tr> <tr><td>85</td><td>八十五</td><td>bashiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>86</td><td>八十六</td><td>bashiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>87</td><td>八十七</td><td>bashiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>88</td><td>八十八</td><td>bashiba</td></tr> <tr><td>89</td><td>八十九</td><td>bashijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>90</td><td>九十</td><td>jiushi</td></tr> <tr><td>91</td><td>九十一</td><td>jiushiyi</td></tr> <tr><td>92</td><td>九十二</td><td>jiushier</td></tr> <tr><td>93</td><td>九十三</td><td>jiushisan</td></tr> <tr><td>94</td><td>九十四</td><td>jiushisi</td></tr> <tr><td>95</td><td>九十五</td><td>jiushiwu</td></tr> <tr><td>96</td><td>九十六</td><td>jiushiliu</td></tr> <tr><td>97</td><td>九十七</td><td>jiushiqi</td></tr> <tr><td>98</td><td>九十八</td><td>jiushiba</td></tr> <tr><td>99</td><td>九十九</td><td>jiushijiu</td></tr> <tr><td>100</td><td>一百</td><td>yibai</td></tr> </tbody> </table>

Special Uses of Numbers in Chinese

Numbers in Chinese go far beyond simple counting. They appear throughout daily life in ways that sometimes differ from English conventions.

Phone Numbers

Chinese phone numbers are read digit by digit. The number 138-0012-3456 would be read as yi-san-ba-ling-ling-yi-er-san-si-wu-liu. Note that zero is 零 (ling), and the digit one is typically pronounced as "yao" (from 幺) rather than "yi" when reading phone numbers aloud, to avoid confusion with 七 (qi, seven).

Dates

Dates in Chinese follow the order year-month-day, and months are simply numbered rather than named. January is 一月 (yiyue, "month one"), February is 二月 (eryue, "month two"), and so on through December, which is 十二月 (shieryue, "month twelve"). Days of the month use the character 号 (hao) or 日 (ri). So March 15th is 三月十五号 (sanyue shiwu hao).

Money

The basic unit of Chinese currency is the 元 (yuan). In spoken Chinese, people often say 块 (kuai) instead. Smaller units are 角 (jiao, one-tenth of a yuan, spoken as 毛 mao) and 分 (fen, one-hundredth of a yuan). So 25.50 yuan would be 二十五块五 (ershiwu kuai wu) in casual speech -- you can drop the trailing unit when the context is clear.

Ages

To ask someone's age in Chinese, you say 你多大了？ (Ni duo da le?) or, more politely for elders, 您多大年纪？ (Nin duo da nianji?). The answer follows the pattern: number + 岁 (sui, "years old"). For example, 我二十五岁 (Wo ershiwu sui) means "I am 25 years old."

Floor Numbers

In Chinese buildings, floors are counted the same as in American English: the ground floor is the first floor (一楼, yilou). However, many buildings skip the fourth floor (and sometimes 14th, 24th, etc.) because four sounds like "death." Some buildings also skip 13 to accommodate Western superstitions. It is not uncommon to see an elevator go from floor 3 straight to floor 5.

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers in Chinese Culture

Numbers carry deep cultural significance in China. Understanding these meanings will help you navigate social situations and appreciate why certain numbers appear so frequently in Chinese life.

Eight (八, ba) -- The luckiest number. Eight sounds like 发 (fa) in 发财 (facai, "to prosper"). Chinese people will pay premium prices for phone numbers, license plates, and addresses containing 8. Businesses prefer to open on dates with 8. The association is so strong that the Beijing Olympics began at 8:08:08 PM on August 8, 2008 (08/08/08).

Four (四, si) -- The unluckiest number. Four sounds nearly identical to 死 (si, "death"). Many Chinese buildings skip the fourth floor. Phone numbers and license plates with 4 are less desirable. Gifts should never come in sets of four. This superstition is similar to the Western avoidance of the number 13, but far more widespread and deeply felt in Chinese-speaking societies.

Six (六, liu) -- Smooth and lucky. Six sounds like 流 (liu, "flow") and is associated with things going smoothly. The phrase 六六大顺 (liuliu dashun, "double six, great smoothness") is a common blessing. Giving gifts in multiples of six is considered auspicious.

Nine (九, jiu) -- Longevity and permanence. Nine sounds like 久 (jiu, "long-lasting") and is associated with eternity. It is a popular number for weddings. The phrase 长长久久 (changchang jiujiu, "forever and ever") is a common wedding blessing. The Forbidden City in Beijing reportedly has 9,999 rooms -- one fewer than 10,000, the number of heaven.

Seven (七, qi) -- Togetherness. Seven sounds like 齐 (qi, "together" or "complete") and is sometimes associated with togetherness and unity. The Qixi Festival (七夕, "seventh evening"), celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, is China's version of Valentine's Day.

Common Mistakes with Chinese Numbers

The 二 (er) vs 两 (liang) Problem

This is the single most common mistake foreigners make with Chinese numbers. Both 二 and 两 mean "two," but they are used in different situations:

Use 二 (er) when:

• Counting in sequence: 一, 二, 三 (one, two, three)
• Saying digits in a number: phone numbers, room numbers, bus routes
• Fractions and decimals: 二分之一 (er fen zhi yi, "one-half")
• The number 12, 20, 200 in some cases: 十二 (shier), 二十 (ershi)

Use 两 (liang) when:

• Specifying a quantity with a measure word: 两个人 (liang ge ren, "two people"), 两杯茶 (liang bei cha, "two cups of tea")
• Large round numbers: 两千 (liangqian, "two thousand"), 两万 (liangwan, "twenty thousand")

The simplest rule of thumb: use 两 before measure words and large units (thousand, ten-thousand), and use 二 for counting, ordering, and digits.

Tone Errors

Many beginners neglect tones when saying numbers, but tones are critical. The number 四 (si, fourth tone) and the word 十 (shi, second tone) sound quite similar to untrained ears, leading to confusion between 4 and 10. Practice these two numbers side by side until the distinction is automatic. Our Chinese tones guide covers tone practice techniques in detail.

The Zero Problem

Zero in Chinese is 零 (ling). When zero appears in the middle of a number, you need to say it. For example, 101 is 一百零一 (yibai ling yi), not 一百一 (which actually means 110 in casual speech). But when zero appears at the end, you do not say it: 110 is 一百一十 (yibai yishi) or casually just 一百一 (yibai yi).

FAQ

How do you say numbers 1-10 in Chinese?

The numbers 1 through 10 in Chinese are: 一 (yi), 二 (er), 三 (san), 四 (si), 五 (wu), 六 (liu), 七 (qi), 八 (ba), 九 (jiu), 十 (shi). These ten characters form the foundation for all Chinese numbers. Every number from 11 to 99 is built by combining these characters in a logical pattern.

Why is 4 unlucky in Chinese?

The number 4 (四, si) is considered unlucky in Chinese culture because its pronunciation is nearly identical to the word for death (死, si). This superstition is deeply embedded in Chinese society. Many buildings skip the fourth floor, phone numbers containing 4 are sold at a discount, and people avoid giving gifts in sets of four. This is similar to how some Western buildings skip the 13th floor.

What is the difference between 二 (er) and 两 (liang)?

Both mean "two," but they are used in different contexts. Use 二 (er) when counting in sequence (一, 二, 三), saying digits (phone numbers, addresses), and in some mathematical contexts. Use 两 (liang) when specifying a quantity before a measure word (两个苹果, "two apples") and before large round units like thousand (两千) and ten-thousand (两万). This is one of the most common mistakes for Chinese learners, so it is worth practicing early.

How do you count to 100 in Chinese?

After learning 1-10, the pattern is straightforward. Numbers 11-19 are "ten-digit" (十一 through 十九). Multiples of ten are "digit-ten" (二十, 三十, through 九十). Two-digit numbers combine both: 二十一 (21) is literally "two-ten-one." One hundred is 一百 (yibai). There are no irregular forms -- every number follows this predictable pattern.

How are Chinese numbers used for dates?

Chinese dates follow the order year-month-day. Months are numbered rather than named: 一月 (January) through 十二月 (December). Days use 号 (hao) in spoken Chinese or 日 (ri) in written Chinese. For example, March 15, 2026 would be 2026年三月十五号 (er ling er liu nian sanyue shiwu hao). The year is read digit by digit: 二零二六 (er ling er liu).

What are the luckiest numbers in Chinese culture?

The luckiest number is 8 (八, ba) because it sounds like 发 (fa, "to prosper"). The number 6 (六, liu) is also lucky, associated with smoothness and things going well. Nine (九, jiu) represents longevity because it sounds like 久 (jiu, "long-lasting"). Conversely, 4 (四, si) is the unluckiest number due to its similarity to 死 (si, "death"). These cultural associations influence everything from building design to business decisions in Chinese-speaking countries.

Related Articles

• HSK 1 Vocabulary: The First 150 Words
• Chinese Tones Explained: Complete Guide for Beginners
• HSK 1 Study Guide and Word List
• Number Study Practice Tool

For a deeper look at the cultural significance of numbers in China, see Wikipedia's article on Chinese numerology.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why is 4 unlucky in Chinese?+

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