Counting from 1 to 100 in Chinese involves learning the Chinese characters and pinyin (Romanized pronunciation) for each number.
Here is a detailed list:
1-10
- 1: 一 (yī)
- 2: 二 (èr) – Note that in more formal or written contexts, especially when counting, “二” is commonly used. However, in everyday spoken language, especially when indicating order or in some compound numbers, “两 (liǎng)” might be used instead (e.g., “两个” means “two [items]”). But for the basic number itself, it’s “二”.
- 3: 三 (sān)
- 4: 四 (sì)
- 5: 五 (wǔ)
- 6: 六 (liù)
- 7: 七 (qī)
- 8: 八 (bā)
- 9: 九 (jiǔ)
- 10: 十 (shí)
11-20
- 11: 十一 (shí yī)
- 12: 十二 (shí èr)
- 13: 十三 (shí sān)
- 14: 十四 (shí sì)
- 15: 十五 (shí wǔ)
- 16: 十六 (shí liù)
- 17: 十七 (shí qī)
- 18: 十八 (shí bā)
- 19: 十九 (shí jiǔ)
- 20: 二十 (èr shí)
21-30
- 21: 二十一 (èr shí yī)
- 22: 二十二 (èr shí èr)
- …
- 29: 二十九 (èr shí jiǔ)
- 30: 三十 (sān shí)
31-40
- 31: 三十一 (sān shí yī)
- 32: 三十二 (sān shí èr)
- …
- 39: 三十九 (sān shí jiǔ)
- 40: 四十 (sì shí)
41-50
- 41: 四十一 (sì shí yī)
- 42: 四十二 (sì shí èr)
- …
- 49: 四十九 (sì shí jiǔ)
- 50: 五十 (wǔ shí)
51-60
- 51: 五十一 (wǔ shí yī)
- 52: 五十二 (wǔ shí èr)
- …
- 59: 五十九 (wǔ shí jiǔ)
- 60: 六十 (liù shí)
61-70
- 61: 六十一 (liù shí yī)
- 62: 六十二 (liù shí èr)
- …
- 69: 六十九 (liù shí jiǔ)
- 70: 七十 (qī shí)
71-80
- 71: 七十一 (qī shí yī)
- 72: 七十二 (qī shí èr)
- …
- 79: 七十九 (qī shí jiǔ)
- 80: 八十 (bā shí)
81-90
- 81: 八十一 (bā shí yī)
- 82: 八十二 (bā shí èr)
- …
- 89: 八十九 (bā shí jiǔ)
- 90: 九十 (jiǔ shí)
91-100
- 91: 九十一 (jiǔ shí yī)
- 92: 九十二 (jiǔ shí èr)
- …
- 99: 九十九 (jiǔ shí jiǔ)
- 100: 一百 (yì bǎi)
Summary
- The pattern for numbers from 11 to 99 is relatively straightforward. You combine the tens digit (e.g., “十” for 10, “二十” for 20, etc.) with the units digit (e.g., “一” for 1, “二” for 2, etc.).
- When the tens digit is 1 (i.e., numbers from 11 to 19), you simply say “十” followed by the units digit.
- For numbers 20 and above, you say the tens digit first (e.g., “二十” for 20, “三十” for 30, etc.), and then add the units digit if it’s not zero.
- “一百” is the word for 100.
Practice saying these numbers aloud to get comfortable with the pronunciation. You can also use flashcards or online resources to reinforce your learning.