How to Count to 100 in Chinese (with examples)

In learning Chinese, numbers are the absolute essentials and an indispensable part of daily life. Mastering how to read Chinese numbers will allow you to navigate shopping, exchange phone numbers, discuss ages, and more with ease. Today, we'll guide you from 1 to 100 with clear examples, helping you unlock the secrets of Chinese numbers!

Chinese Numbers 1-10

These are the foundation for all numbers, so make sure to memorize them:

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)

Chinese Numbers 11-19: Ten + Single Digit

Numbers from 11 to 19 in Chinese are very straightforward. Simply add the single digit after "十" (shí - ten):

11: 十一 (shíyī)
12: 十二 (shí'èr)
13: 十三 (shísān)
14: 十四 (shísì)
15: 十五 (shíwǔ)
16: 十六 (shíliù)
17: 十七 (shíqī)
18: 十八 (shíbā)
19: 十九 (shíjiǔ)

Chinese Numbers 20-99: Tens Digit + Ten + Single Digit

From 20 onwards, Chinese numbers are formed by "tens digit + 十 (shí) + single digit." For example, 20 is "二 + 十 (二十 - èrshí)," and 21 is "二 + 十 + 一 (二十一 - èrshíyī)."

20: 二十 (èrshí)
21: 二十一 (èrshíyī)
30: 三十 (sānshí)
35: 三十五 (sānshíwǔ)
40: 四十 (sìshí)
48: 四十八 (sìshíbā)
50: 五十 (wǔshí)
59: 五十九 (wǔshíjiǔ)
60: 六十 (liùshí)
62: 六十二 (liùshí'èr)
70: 七十 (qīshí)
77: 七十七 (qīshíqī)
80: 八十 (bāshí)
84: 八十四 (bāshísì)
90: 九十 (jiǔshí)
99: 九十九 (jiǔshíjiǔ)

Chinese Number 100

100: 一百 (yībǎi)

Number Pronunciation Tips:

"二" (èr) vs. "两" (liǎng): When indicating quantity, the number 2 is often represented by "两" (liǎng). For example, "两个人" (liǎng gè rén - two people), "两本书" (liǎng běn shū - two books). However, "二" is still used in phone numbers, ordinal numbers (第二 - dì'èr - second), and calculations (二十 - èrshí - twenty).
Tone Changes: Pay attention to tone changes when numbers are pronounced in a sequence, especially the tone changes of "一" (yī - one) and "不" (bù - no).
- "一" is pronounced with the second tone (yí) before a fourth tone, e.g., "一个" (yí gè - one).
- "一" is pronounced with the fourth tone (yì) before other tones, e.g., "一天" (yì tiān - one day).
Listen and Practice More: Listen to Chinese songs, watch Chinese shows, pay attention to the actual pronunciation of numbers, and practice repeating them aloud.

Mastering Chinese numbers from 1 to 100 is a significant step in your journey through the Chinese language. With consistent practice, you'll be able to use these numbers fluently in your daily conversations!