Mandarin Numbers: The Complete Guide

Mandarin numbers are secretly one of the easiest parts of the language.

Once you learn 1–10, you can build almost any number with pure logic — no irregulars, no strange exceptions like English's "eleven" and "twelve." The system is beautifully consistent, and once it clicks, it stays clicked.

If you want a companion reference for 1–100 in table form, bookmark Chinese Numbers 1–100. If you want measure words next, read Counting in Chinese.

Here's everything you need.

The Foundation: 1–10

Learn these cold. Everything else is built from them.

Eleven to Ninety-Nine: Pure Logic

This is where Mandarin earns its reputation for number elegance. The pattern is so clean it almost feels like cheating.

Tens:

• 20 = 二十 (èr shí) — "two ten"
• 30 = 三十 (sān shí) — "three ten"
• 40 = 四十 (sì shí) — "four ten"

Teens:

• 11 = 十一 (shí yī) — "ten one"
• 12 = 十二 (shí èr) — "ten two"
• 19 = 十九 (shí jiǔ) — "ten nine"

Compound numbers:

• 21 = 二十一 (èr shí yī) — "two ten one"
• 45 = 四十五 (sì shí wǔ) — "four ten five"
• 99 = 九十九 (jiǔ shí jiǔ) — "nine ten nine"

There are no exceptions. Every number between 11 and 99 follows this exact pattern.

Hundreds and Thousands

• 100 = 一百 (yī bǎi)
• 1,000 = 一千 (yī qiān)
• 10,000 = 一万 (yī wàn) — note: Mandarin groups by ten-thousands, not thousands

The 万 (wàn) unit catches English speakers off guard. In Chinese, you don't say "one hundred thousand" — you say "ten 万" (十万, shí wàn). Once you internalize this, big numbers become much easier.

Two Important Special Cases

Two: 两 (liǎng) vs 二 (èr)

In Mandarin, the number 2 has two forms. 二 (èr) is used for counting and in compound numbers (12, 22, 200, etc.). 两 (liǎng) is used before measure words and when expressing quantities.

• "Two cups of tea" → 两杯茶 (liǎng bēi chá) — use 两
• "Number twelve" → 十二 (shí èr) — use 二

Zero: 零 (líng)

Zero is used in the middle of numbers to bridge gaps. 105 in Mandarin is 一百零五 (yī bǎi líng wǔ) — "one hundred zero five." You'll also hear it on phone numbers and dates.

Tone Changes on 一 and 不

One (一) changes tone depending on what follows it — a common source of confusion:

• Before a 4th tone syllable: 一 becomes 2nd tone (yí)
• Before 1st, 2nd, or 3rd tone: 一 becomes 4th tone (yì)
• When counting alone or at the end: stays 1st tone (yī)

Numbers in Real Life

Mandarin numbers come up constantly — prices, phone numbers, dates, ages, floors, bus lines. The good news is that native speakers are extremely patient with number mistakes, because the logic is so clean that errors are easy to spot and correct.

Practice by:

• Reading prices aloud when you shop
• Saying your phone number in Mandarin
• Counting floors in lifts
• Telling the time (时间, shíjiān)