Counting Numbers in Mandarin
In Mandarin Chinese, numbers are simple to learn once you know the basic digits. Here are the first ten numbers:
| Number | Chinese Character | Pinyin | English Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 零 | líng | Zero |
| 1 | 一 | yī | One |
| 2 | 二 | èr | Two |
| 3 | 三 | sān | Three |
| 4 | 四 | sì | Four |
| 5 | 五 | wǔ | Five |
| 6 | 六 | liù | Six |
| 7 | 七 | qī | Seven |
| 8 | 八 | bā | Eight |
| 9 | 九 | jiǔ | Nine |
Numbers 10 to 99
To form numbers from 10 to 99, we combine the digits for 1-9 with the word for ten (十, shí). For example:
- 10 → 十 (shí)
- 11 → 十一 (shí yī)
- 20 → 二十 (èr shí)
- 21 → 二十一 (èr shí yī)
- 30 → 三十 (sān shí)
This pattern continues, so 99 would be 九十九 (jiǔ shí jiǔ).
Special Usage of 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng)
- 二 (èr): This is used when you’re talking about numbers in isolation or when you’re counting (e.g., 二十, 20). It is also used in larger numbers like 二百 (200), 二千 (2000), etc.
- 两 (liǎng): This is used when counting objects or people. It is also used before measure words (classifiers). For example:
- 两个 (liǎng gè) → two (of something)
- 两本书 (liǎng běn shū) → two books
- 两个人 (liǎng gè rén) → two people
In Chinese, 个 (gè) is one of the most commonly used measure words (classifiers), and it can be used for a wide range of objects, especially when you don’t have a specific measure word for the noun you're counting. It’s often used for general items and people.
For example:
一个人 (yī gè rén) → one person
两个苹果 (liǎng gè píngguǒ) → two apples
三个书包 (sān gè shūbāo) → three backpacks
While 个 (gè) is versatile, it’s important to remember that in specific contexts, other measure words might be more appropriate, depending on the noun you're counting. For example, for books, we use 本 (běn) instead of 个 (gè): 两本书 (liǎng běn shū) → two books.
This concept will be covered more thoroughly in a later lesson, but for now, just know that 个 (gè) is used broadly and is especially useful when you’re unsure which classifier to use.
Key Differences:
- Use 二 (èr) when you’re counting or giving numbers.
- Use 两 (liǎng) when referring to quantities or pairs of items.
Age and Saying Your Age in Mandarin
To ask someone’s age, you can say:
- 你多大？ (nǐ duō dà?) → How old are you?
To answer:
- 我XX岁。 (wǒ XX suì) → I am XX years old.
For example:
- 我二十岁。 (wǒ èr shí suì) → I am 20 years old.
- 我三十岁。 (wǒ sān shí suì) → I am 30 years old.
Note: You use the regular number system for your age, with 二 (èr) or 两 (liǎng) based on the context:
- 二十 (èr shí) → 20 (for counting years directly).
- 两岁 (liǎng suì) → two years old (for talking about age of a small child).