Learn Numbers in Chinese 1–100 with Pinyin and Uses

Numbers in Chinese 1–100 are essential for daily communication—whether you're buying something, giving your age, or asking the time. In this guide, you'll learn how to count step by step, pronounce with tones, and use Chinese numbers in real-life situations.

I. How to Count from 1 to 100 in Chinese Step by Step

Learning how to count from 1 to 100 in Chinese is one of the most important foundations in your Mandarin journey. Numbers are used constantly in everyday life—when shopping, asking for prices, giving your age, telling time, or navigating addresses.

Chinese numbers follow a logical and consistent pattern. Once you understand the building blocks from 1 to 10, counting up to 100 becomes simple and systematic. Chinese numbers from 1–100 also appear frequently in beginner-level materials, especially in HSK 1 and HSK 2, making them essential for exam prep as well as daily conversation.

1. Basic counting rules and formation logic

The Chinese number system is logical and pattern-based, making it surprisingly easy to learn once you understand the core structure. To count from 1 to 100, you only need to memorize a few base numbers and learn how to combine them systematically.

Numbers 1 to 10: The essential base

These are the building blocks for all larger Chinese numbers:

Combining numbers to form tens and units

After 10, Chinese numbers follow a clear formula:

• 11 to 19: Use “ten + digit”
  • 11 = 十一 (shí yī) → “ten one”
  • 19 = 十九 (shí jiǔ) → “ten nine”
• 20 to 99: Use “X ten + Y”
  • 23 = 二十三 (èr shí sān) → “two ten three”
  • 47 = 四十七 (sì shí qī) → “four ten seven”
• Multiples of ten: Just say “X ten”
  • 30 = 三十 (sān shí)
  • 90 = 九十 (jiǔ shí)
• This consistent pattern makes learning easy and predictable.

About zeros in 1–100

Technically, numbers with the digit zero (like 101, 109) come after 100 and are written with 零 (líng) to fill in the gap.

Example: 101 = 一百零一 (yī bǎi líng yī)

But since we’re focusing on 1–100 here, you can skip learning 零 for now—you’ll encounter it in the next stage of your number journey.

2. Chinese numbers 1–100 with characters and pinyin

Now that you've learned the basic formation rules, it's time to see the numbers from 1 to 100 in practice, alongside their Chinese characters and pinyin. Knowing how to read, pronounce, and recognize these numbers will help you build a solid vocabulary foundation.

11–20: Teens (Ten + Digit)

21–100: Twenty-One to One Hundred (Patterns Repeat)

From 21 onward, you simply follow the pattern of [number-of-tens] + 十 + [digit]. Here are a few key examples from each tens group to illustrate:

You don’t have to memorize all 100 individually. Once you’re confident with 1–10 and the formula, it’s all pattern recognition.

II. Real-Life Uses of Numbers in Chinese 1–100

Learning numbers from 1 to 100 in Chinese isn’t just about memorization—it’s about applying them in real-life situations. Whether you’re shopping, traveling, or making small talk, numbers show up everywhere. Let’s look at the most common contexts where you’ll need to use Chinese numbers and how to do it naturally.

Asking and Telling Ages and Prices

One of the first things you’ll need numbers for is asking someone’s age or talking about money—two topics that often pop up in daily conversations.

Useful Phrases:

• 你几岁？(nǐ jǐ suì?) – How old are you?
• 我二十五岁。 (wǒ èr shí wǔ suì) – I am 25 years old.
• 这个多少钱？(zhè ge duō shǎo qián?) – How much is this?
• 五十八块 (wǔ shí bā kuài) – 58 yuan

Numbers from 1–100 are typically enough for everyday purchases and age-related questions.

Telling Time and Giving Addresses

Time and location are impossible to express without numbers.

Useful Phrases with Time:

• 现在七点半。 (xiàn zài qī diǎn bàn) – It’s 7:30
• 十点十分 (shí diǎn shí fēn) – 10:10
• 一小时 (yī xiǎo shí) – 1 hour

Useful Phrases with Addresses and Rooms:

• 四十二号楼 (sì shí èr hào lóu) – Building No. 42
• 九零五室 (jiǔ líng wǔ shì) – Room 905
• 二楼三号 (èr lóu sān hào) – Unit 3, 2nd floor

Knowing cardinal numbers up to 100 helps you understand signs, directions, or announcements in cities across China.

Numbers in School, Travel, and Daily Life

In classroom settings or while traveling, numbers appear often:

• 班级：一班、二班 (yī bān, èr bān) – Class 1, Class 2
• 火车车次：G23次 (G èr shí sān cì) – Train G23
• 身份证、座位号、房间号 – ID numbers, seat numbers, room numbers

If you're taking a course in China, traveling by train, or even just ordering takeout, numbers are unavoidable—and knowing them helps you navigate with ease and confidence.

III. Expand Your Number Skills After 100

Once you’ve mastered numbers in Chinese from 1 to 100, you're ready to take the next step: learning how to count beyond 100. The good news is that Chinese numbers continue to follow a highly regular and logical pattern, which makes the learning process easier than you might expect.

Learn the Pattern for 101, 110, 150, and Beyond

To express numbers greater than 100, simply add digits to 一百 (yī bǎi) following the same logic you've learned earlier.

Examples:

• 101 → 一百零一 (yī bǎi líng yī)
• 110 → 一百一十 (yī bǎi yī shí)
• 125 → 一百二十五 (yī bǎi èr shí wǔ)
• 199 → 一百九十九 (yī bǎi jiǔ shí jiǔ)

Key rules to remember:

• Use 零 (líng) to fill empty “tens” positions, like in 101 or 104.
• Numbers like 115 = 一百一十五 (no need for 零 if the tens are not skipped).
• The digit 百 (bǎi) is used for "hundreds"

Tip: Once you're comfortable counting from 1–100, numbers up to 999 become very manageable just by applying this same logic.

Introduction to Thousand (千) and Ten Thousand (万)

After 一百 (100), it's natural to progress to even larger values:

• 1,000 = 一千 (yī qiān)
• 2,000 = 两千 (liǎng qiān) – Use 两 (liǎng), not 二 (èr) when used before measure words or 百 / 千
• 10,000 = 一万 (yī wàn) → A unique milestone in Chinese number logic

Unlike English, which groups large numbers by thousands, Chinese thinks in units of ten thousand (万 / wàn).

Examples:

• 12,000 = 一万两千 (yī wàn liǎng qiān)
• 25,500 = 两万五千五百 (liǎng wàn wǔ qiān wǔ bǎi)

Mastering numbers in Chinese from 1 to 100 is more than a vocabulary exercise—it’s a fundamental skill that unlocks daily communication in Mandarin. From telling time and asking prices to giving your age or understanding addresses, numbers appear everywhere in real-life conversations.

By learning the counting rules, pronunciation, and real-world usage—and then expanding into numbers beyond 100—you’re setting yourself up for confident, practical language use. Ready to take the next step?