Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Count-to-10

Mandarin Chinese Vocabulary - Count to 10

Hi Mandarin Chinese learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn how to count to 10 in Mandarin Chinese. Counting is an essential skill in any language, and Mandarin Chinese is no exception. This lesson is for intermediate learners who have some basic knowledge of Mandarin Chinese grammar and vocabulary. You will also learn some cultural information and interesting facts about the Chinese language and society. So, let's get started! Don't forget to use the Polyglot Club website to find native speakers and ask them any questions you may have.

Pronunciation

Before we start the lesson, let's review some basic rules of Mandarin Chinese pronunciation. For counting in Chinese, you need to know the names of the numbers from 0 to 10. Here is a pronunciation guide for each number:

Mandarin Chinese	Pinyin	English
0	líng	zero
1	yī	one
2	èr	two
3	sān	three
4	sì	four
5	wǔ	five
6	liù	six
7	qī	seven
8	bā	eight
9	jiǔ	nine
10	shí	ten

In Mandarin Chinese, each syllable has one of four possible tones: high, rising, falling-rising, or falling. It is important to use the correct tone when pronouncing a word because a different tone can change the meaning of the word entirely.

For example, the syllable "ma" can mean "mother", "horse", "scold", or "hemp" depending on the tone used. So, make sure to pay attention to the tone when counting in Chinese.

Counting to 10

Now, let's learn how to count to 10 in Mandarin Chinese. Memorize the numbers, and practice saying them aloud with the correct tone. You can also practice writing the Chinese characters for each number.

• 0 - líng (零): In Chinese culture, the number 0 is considered lucky because it represents emptiness, which can be filled with good things. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of "wuji" (無極) means "non-polar" or "limitless", and it symbolizes the ultimate reality that gives birth to "taiji" (太極), the principle of yin and yang.

• 1 - yī (一): In Mandarin Chinese, the number 1 is a symbol of unity and singularity. The Chinese character for "one" (一) is the simplest stroke, and it represents the beginning of all things. The number 1 is also a homophone for the word "yi" (一), which means "first" or "best".

• 2 - èr (二): In Chinese culture, the number 2 represents balance and harmony because it is the smallest even number. The Chinese character for "two" (二) looks like two parallel lines, which implies a sense of symmetry and order. In Chinese tradition, the two sides of the human body (left and right) correspond to the two sides of the universe (yin and yang), and the number 2 reflects the idea of complementary opposites.

• 3 - sān (三): In Chinese folklore, the number 3 is a lucky number because it sounds like the word "sheng" (生), which means "life" or "birth". The Chinese character for "three" (三) is a combination of three horizontal strokes, which, according to some interpretations, represents the three stages of human life: birth, adulthood, and old age. The number 3 is also associated with the three treasures of Chinese medicine: jing (essence), qi (vital energy), and shen (spirit).

• 4 - sì (四): In Chinese culture, the number 4 is considered unlucky because it sounds like the word "sĭ" (死), which means "death". The Chinese character for "four" (四) is a combination of two numbers "two" (二) and "two" (二), which further emphasizes the idea of duality and imbalance. Therefore, many Chinese people avoid using the number 4 in daily life, and some buildings skip the fourth floor (similar to the western habit of skipping the 13th floor).

• 5 - wǔ (五): In Chinese tradition, the number 5 represents the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The Chinese character for "five" (五) has five strokes, which makes it the simplest odd-numbered character. The number 5 is also a homophone for the word "wu" (無), which means "nothingness" or "non-being", and it is an important concept in Taoist philosophy.

• 6 - liù (六): In Chinese culture, the number 6 is associated with good luck and fortune because it sounds like the word "lù" (祿), which means "prosperity" or "happiness". The Chinese character for "six" (六) is a combination of two numbers "three" (三) and "three" (三), which implies a sense of completion and perfection. In Chinese tradition, the six directions (north, south, east, west, up, and down) represent the entire universe, and the number 6 reflects the idea of harmony and balance.

• 7 - qī (七): In Chinese culture, the number 7 is considered lucky because it sounds like the word "qīng" (清), which means "clean" or "pure". The Chinese character for "seven" (七) consists of two parts, a horizontal stroke and a slanted stroke, which resembles a tree with branches. In ancient Chinese divination, the "qigua" (卦) is a system of symbols that consists of eight trigrams (ba gua 八卦), which represent the forces of nature and the principles of change. The number 7 is associated with the "qian gua" (乾卦), which represents heaven and the creative energy that brings forth new life.

• 8 - bā (八): In Chinese culture, the number 8 is considered the luckiest number because it sounds like the word "fā" (發), which means "wealth" or "prosperity". The Chinese character for "eight" (八) is a mirror image of the character for "two" (二), which implies a sense of symmetry and balance. In Chinese mythology, the "ba xian" (八仙) are eight legendary immortals who represent different aspects of Chinese culture and history.

• 9 - jiǔ (九): In Chinese culture, the number 9 is associated with longevity and eternity because it sounds like the word "jiǔ" (久), which means "long-lasting". The Chinese character for "nine" (九) consists of a horizontal stroke and a curved stroke, which resembles a human being with a long beard. In Chinese astrology, there are nine main stars (jiǔ xīng 九星) that represent different influences on human life, such as wealth, health, and fame.

• 10 - shí (十): In Chinese culture, the number 10 represents completeness and perfection because it marks the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. The Chinese character for "ten" (十) consists of two vertical strokes that are parallel and equidistant, which symbolizes the balance between yin and yang. In Chinese mythology, the ten suns (shí rì 十日) were ten brothers who took turns to cross the sky on a chariot pulled by dragons.

Now, let's see some examples of how to use the numbers in context.

Dialogue:

• Person 1: nǐ yǒu jǐ gè háizi? (你有几个孩子？) (How many children do you have?)
• Person 2: wǒ yǒu liù gè háizi. (我有六个孩子。) (I have six children.)
• Person 1: wǒ yào mǐfàn. jǐ kuài qián? (我要米饭。几块钱？) (I want white rice. How much is it?)
• Person 2: yī kuài qián yī gè xiǎofàn. (一块钱一个小饭。) (One dollar for one small bowl of rice.)

Congratulations! You can now count to 10 in Mandarin Chinese and use the numbers in context. Keep practicing, and you will improve your Mandarin Chinese skills. If you want to learn more vocabulary, check out the Vocabulary section on the Polyglot Club website.

Sources

• Chinese numerals
• Chinese culture
• Chinese philosophy

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