Numbers in Chinese 1-10: Pronunciation, Writing, and Cultural Insights

Learning how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese is essential for everyday communication, whether you're shopping, ordering food, or telling the time.

05:24 21 February 2025

Numbers in Chinese 1-10: Pronunciation, Writing, and Cultural Insights

Learning how to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese is essential for everyday communication, whether you're shopping, ordering food, or telling the time. The Chinese number system is logical and easy to remember, making it a great starting point for beginners.

In this guide, we’ll cover the numbers in Chinese 1-10, their pronunciation, stroke order, hand gestures, and cultural significance.

Chinese Numbers 1-10: Characters, Pinyin, and Pronunciation

Here’s how to count from 1 to 10 in Mandarin Chinese:

Number	Chinese Character	Pinyin	Pronunciation
1	一	yī	ee (1st tone)
2	二	èr	ar (4th tone)
3	三	sān	san (1st tone)
4	四	sì	ssuh (4th tone)
5	五	wǔ	woo (3rd tone)
6	六	liù	leo (4th tone)
7	七	qī	chee (1st tone)
8	八	bā	bah (1st tone)
9	九	jiǔ	joe (3rd tone)
10	十	shí	sher (2nd tone)