Learning numbers and counting in Chinese is simplified because the Chinese number system is extremely regular. The entire number system is based on counting the number of tens and then adding the ones. For example, 11 is shíyî, which is 10 (shí) plus 1 (yî); 21 is èrshíyī, which is 2 (èr) times 10 (shí) plus 1 (yî).
| yî | 1 |
| èr | 2 |
| sân | 3 |
| sì | 4 |
| wŭ | 5 |
| liù | 6 |
| qî | 7 |
| bâ | 8 |
| jiŭ | 9 |
| shí | 10 |
| shíyî | 11 |
| shíèr | 12 |
| shísân | 13 |
| shísì | 14 |
| shíwŭ | 15 |
| shíliù | 16 |
| shíqî | 17 |
| shíbâ | 18 |
| shíjiŭ | 19 |
| èrshí | 20 |
| èrshíyî | 21 |
| èrshíèr | 22 |
| èrshísân | 23 |
| sânshí | 30 |
| sânshíyî | 31 |
| sânshíèr | 32 |
| sìshí | 40 |
| sìshíyî | 41 |
| sìshíèr | 42 |
| wŭshí | 50 |
| liùshí | 60 |
| qîshí | 70 |
| bâshí | 80 |
| jiŭshí | 90 |
| jiŭshíjiŭ | 99 |
| yìbãi | 100 |
| yìqiân | 1,000 |
In Chinese, numbers are read the same way they are in English. You would say how many hundreds, how many tens, and then how many ones. For example, you would say 135 by saying, yìbãi (one hundred) sânshí (three tens, or thirty) wŭ (five). So, 6,427 would be read as liùqiân sìbãi èrshí qî.
The following phrases can show how numbers can be used in conversation.
Chen: nĭ duó dà? (for people older than 10); nĭ jĭsuì? (for children) (How old are you?)
Michael: wŏ èrshíwŭ suì. (I am 25 years old.)
Chen: shuāngrénfáng shì duōshăo qián? (How much does a double room cost?)
Michael: shuāngrénfáng shì yìbăiérshí kuài. (It costs $120.)