Writing Numbers in Chinese for Kids

Writing the numbers in Chinese is simple as most characters are made of few strokes. Although the basic Chinese Number system is used widely, the Arabic system (what we are used to) has also been adopted due to convenience. Prices at the stores for example, are also quoted using the Arabic system.

Numbers in Chinese 1 to 10

Writing Chinese Numbers 1 to 10

Arabic Chinese Pinyin Stroke Order
1 Chinese Number 1 yi Chinese Number 1
2 Chinese Number 2 èr Chinese Number 2 stroke 1 Chinese Number 2 Strokes 2
3 Chinese Number 3 san Chinese Number 3 stroke 1 Chinese Number 3 Stroke 2 Chinese Number 3 Stroke 3
4 Chinese Number 4 Chinese Number 4 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 4 Stroke 2 Chinese Number 4 Stroke 3 Chinese Number 4 Stroke 4 Chinese Number 4 Stroke 5
5 Chinese Number 5 Chinese Number 5 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 5 Stroke 2 Chinese Number 5 Stroke 3 Chinese Number 5 Stroke 4
6 Chinese Number 6 liù Chinese Number 6 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 6 Stroke 2 Chinese Number 6 Stroke 3 Chinese Number 6 Stroke 4
7 Chinese Number 7 qi Chinese Number 7 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 7 Stroke 2
8 Chinese Number 8 ba Chinese Number 8 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 8 Stroke 2
9 Chinese Number 9 jiǔ Chinese Number 9 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 9 Stroke 2
10 Chinese Number 10 shí Chinese Number 10 Stroke 1 Chinese Number 10 Stroke 2

Numbers in Chinese 11 to 19

Now that you have learned the numbers from 1 to 10, you should be able to count to 99! Let's see how that works. There are some easy basic rules to remember, it is all about adding and multiplying:

Your base is always the number 10 ( Chinese Number 10 )

To form the numbers 11 to 19, we will ADD to 10

When the number comes AFTER TEN, you ADD it to ten.

Writing Chinese Numbers 11 to 19

Arabic Add Chinese Number Pinyin
11 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 1
10 + 1 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 1
11
shíyi
12 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 2
10 + 2 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 2
12
shíèr
13 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 3
10 + 3 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 3
13
shísan
14 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 4
10 + 4 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 4
14
shísì
15 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 5
10 + 5 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 5
15
shíwǔ
16 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 6
10 + 6 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 6
11
shíliù
17 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 7
10 + 7 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 7
17
shíqi
18 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 8
10 + 8 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 8
18
shíba
19 Chinese Number 10 plusChinese Number 9
10 + 9 =
Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 9
19
shíjiǔ

Numbers in Chinese 20 to 90

Remember your base is always the number 10 ( Chinese Number 10 )

To form the numbers 20 to 90, we will MULTIPLY times 10

When the number comes BEFORE TEN you multiply TIMES ten.

Writing Chinese Numbers 20 to 90

Arabic Multiply Chinese Number Pinyin
20 Chinese Number 2 times Chinese Number 10
2 X 10 =
Chinese Number 2 Chinese Number 10
20
èrshí
30 Chinese Number 3 times Chinese Number 10
3 X 10 =
Chinese Number 3 Chinese Number 10
30
sanshí
40 Chinese Number 4 times Chinese Number 10
4 X 10 =
Chinese Number 4 Chinese Number 10
40
sìshí
50 Chinese Number 5 times Chinese Number 10
5 X 10 =
Chinese Number 1 Chinese Number 10
50
wǔshí
60 Chinese Number 6 times Chinese Number 10
6 X 10 =
Chinese Number 6 Chinese Number 10
60
liùshí
70 Chinese Number 7 times Chinese Number 10
7 X 10 =
Chinese Number 7 Chinese Number 10
70
qishí
80 Chinese Number 8 times Chinese Number 10
8 X 10 =
Chinese Number 8 Chinese Number 10
80
bashí
90 Chinese Number 9 times Chinese Number 10
9 X 10 =
Chinese Number 9 Chinese Number 10
90
jiǔshí

Numbers in Chinese - Counting to 99

Now is just a matter of simple math to form the rest of the numbers. Let's recap:

If the number goes AFTER ten, you add it to ten.

If the number goes BEFORE ten, you multiply times ten.

Using these two simple rules, you can get to any number up to 99.

Writing Chinese Numbers to 99

Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 3 10 + 3 = 13 shísan
Chinese Number 3 Chinese Number 10 3 * 10 = 30 sanshí
Chinese Number 3 Chinese Number 10 Chinese Number 3 3 * 10 +3 = 33 sanshísan

Next: Counting to 1,000,000 and beyond!

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