Editing Language/Mandarin-chinese/Vocabulary/Numbers
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.
The edit can be undone. Please check the comparison below to verify that this is what you want to do, and then publish the changes below to finish undoing the edit.
Latest revision | Your text | ||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
[[File:Numbers-chinese.jpg|thumb]] | [[File:Numbers-chinese.jpg|thumb]] | ||
Welcome to this Mandarin Chinese lesson for beginners and intermediate levels. | |||
Today you will learn how to count and pronounce numbers in Chinese. | |||
== Count with your hands from 1 to 10 in Mandarin Chinese == | |||
To start this lesson, let's learn how to count using our hands. | |||
== Count with your hands from 1 to 10 in Chinese == | |||
To start this lesson, let's learn how to count using hands. | |||
Look at the picture below: | Look at the picture below: | ||
Line 17: | Line 12: | ||
[[File:Count-in-chinese-polyglot-wiki.jpg]] | [[File:Count-in-chinese-polyglot-wiki.jpg]] | ||
==Pronounce numbers from 0 to 10 in Chinese== | ==Pronounce numbers from 0 to 10 in Mandarin Chinese== | ||
Watch this video to learn how to pronounce numbers from 0 to 10. | Watch this video to learn how to pronounce numbers from 0 to 10. | ||
Line 23: | Line 18: | ||
Pay attention to the pronunciation of tones. Its very important. | Pay attention to the pronunciation of tones. Its very important. | ||
<youtube>WoKI-FUQRGw</youtube> | |||
== Write numbers from 0 to 10 in Mandarin Chinese== | |||
It is quite easy to count from 0 to 10 in Chinese, apart from the writing of zero: <span class="notranslate">零 líng</span>. | It is quite easy to count from 0 to 10 in Chinese, apart from the writing of zero: <span class="notranslate">零 líng</span>. | ||
Line 31: | Line 27: | ||
Zero can also be written <span class="notranslate">〇</span> which is simpler but less traditional. | Zero can also be written <span class="notranslate">〇</span> which is simpler but less traditional. | ||
In Chinese, we often use Arabic numerals. However, you also have to know the Chinese | |||
In Chinese, we often use Arabic numerals. However, you also have to know the Chinese figures that are commonly used. | |||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
!Numbers | !Numbers | ||
Line 43: | Line 40: | ||
|- | |- | ||
|<span class="notranslate">1</span> | |<span class="notranslate">1</span> | ||
|一 | |一 | ||
|<span class="notranslate">yī | |<span class="notranslate">yī / yí / yì / yāo</span> | ||
|- | |- | ||
|<span class="notranslate">2</span> | |<span class="notranslate">2</span> | ||
Line 83: | Line 80: | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Write numbers after 10 in Chinese == | == Write numbers after 10 in Mandarin Chinese == | ||
After 10, the result is quite logical: | After 10, the result is quite logical: | ||
*<span class="notranslate">11 十一</span> | *<span class="notranslate">11 十一</span> | ||
Line 96: | Line 94: | ||
*<span class="notranslate">19 十九</span> | *<span class="notranslate">19 十九</span> | ||
Then: | Then: | ||
Line 104: | Line 103: | ||
*<span class="notranslate">22 二十二</span> | *<span class="notranslate">22 二十二</span> | ||
etc. | etc. | ||
It is very easy and there is nothing special except that we should not add a "one" from 10 to 19: Do not write: "<span class="notranslate">一 十, 一 十一</span>", etc. | It is very easy and there is nothing special except that we should not add a "one" from 10 to 19: Do not write: "<span class="notranslate">一 十, 一 十一</span>", etc. | ||
== Write big numbers in Mandarin Chinese== | |||
Here's how to write big numbers: | Here's how to write big numbers: | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
|Numbers | |||
|Chinese | |||
|pinyin | |||
|- | |- | ||
|<span class="notranslate">100</span> | |<span class="notranslate">100</span> | ||
Line 183: | Line 184: | ||
| <span class="notranslate">shí yì</span> | | <span class="notranslate">shí yì</span> | ||
|} | |} | ||
== Write the date in Chinese == | == Write the date in Mandarin Chinese == | ||
The date is built from the most general to the most precise: | The date is built from the most general to the most precise: | ||
<code>Year + month + day of the month + day of the week</code> | <code>Year + month + day of the month + day of the week</code> | ||
The year is constructed by listing the numbers in front of the word "year" <span class="notranslate">年 nián</span>: | The year is constructed by listing the numbers in front of the word "year" <span class="notranslate">年 nián</span>: | ||
Thus, 2012 is written <span class="notranslate">二零一二年 èr líng yí èr nián</span>. | |||
Thus, 2012 is written <span class="notranslate">二零一二年 è èr líng yí èr nián</span>. | |||
So we say "year two, zero, one, two." We must not say two thousand, etc. | So we say "year two, zero, one, two." We must not say two thousand, etc. | ||
The months are constructed by putting the number or the number (10, 11, 12) before the word "month" <span class="notranslate">月 yuè</span>: | The months are constructed by putting the number or the number (10, 11, 12) before the word "month" <span class="notranslate">月 yuè</span>: | ||
Line 204: | Line 212: | ||
... | ... | ||
* October: <span class="notranslate">十月 shí yuè</span> | * October: <span class="notranslate">十月 shí yuè</span> | ||
* November: <span class="notranslate">十一月 shí yí yuè</span> | * November: <span class="notranslate">十一月 shí yí yuè</span> | ||
* December: <span class="notranslate">十二月 shí èr yuè</span> | * December: <span class="notranslate">十二月 shí èr yuè</span> | ||
Only the year is built by listing the numbers. | Only the year is built by listing the numbers. | ||
Line 213: | Line 223: | ||
April 1998 is therefore: <span class="notranslate">一 九九 八年 四月</span>. | April 1998 is therefore: <span class="notranslate">一 九九 八年 四月</span>. | ||
The day of the month is constructed by putting the number or number in front of the word "day" <span class="notranslate">日 rì</span>. | The day of the month is constructed by putting the number or number in front of the word "day" <span class="notranslate">日 rì</span>. | ||
Line 223: | Line 233: | ||
*The thirty-first <span class="notranslate">三十 一日 sān shí yí rì</span>, etc. | *The thirty-first <span class="notranslate">三十 一日 sān shí yí rì</span>, etc. | ||
In Chinese, the word week is called 星期 xīngqī (literally "period of stars"). The day of the week is built by adding the number | December 21, 2012 is written: <span class="notranslate">二零 一 二年 十二月 二十 一日</span>. | ||
In Chinese, the word week is called 星期 xīngqī (literally "period of stars"). The day of the week is built by adding the number AFTER the word week 星期: | |||
* Monday <span class="notranslate">星期一 xīngqī yī</span> | * Monday <span class="notranslate">星期一 xīngqī yī</span> | ||
* Tuesday <span class="notranslate">星期二 xīngqī èr</span> | * Tuesday <span class="notranslate">星期二 xīngqī èr</span> | ||
Line 232: | Line 244: | ||
* Friday <span class="notranslate">星期五 xīngqī wǔ</span> | * Friday <span class="notranslate">星期五 xīngqī wǔ</span> | ||
* Saturday <span class="notranslate">星期六 xīngqī liù</span> | * Saturday <span class="notranslate">星期六 xīngqī liù</span> | ||
The word "Sunday" is special and is either <span class="notranslate">星期天 xīngqī tiān</span> (day of the sky) or <span class="notranslate">星期日 xīngqī rì</span> (day of the sun). | The word "Sunday" is special and is either <span class="notranslate">星期天 xīngqī tiān</span> (day of the sky) or <span class="notranslate">星期日 xīngqī rì</span> (day of the sun). | ||
===Ask for a date in Chinese=== | And yes, the week is not Chinese tradition but Judeo-Christian. | ||
===Ask for a date in Mandarin Chinese=== | |||
To ask for the date, two questions are possible: | To ask for the date, two questions are possible: | ||
* <span class="notranslate">今天 的 日期 是 什么? Jīntiān de rìqī shì shénme?</span> | * <span class="notranslate">今天 的 日期 是 什么? Jīntiān de rìqī shì shénme?</span> | ||
Line 241: | Line 258: | ||
* <span class="notranslate">今天 几 月 几 日? Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ rì?</span> (for the short form) | * <span class="notranslate">今天 几 月 几 日? Jīntiān jǐ yuè jǐ rì?</span> (for the short form) | ||
* <span class="notranslate">今天 几年 几 月 几 日 星期 星期 几? Jīntiān jǐ nián jǐ yuè jǐ rì xīngqī jǐ?</span> (for the long form) | * <span class="notranslate">今天 几年 几 月 几 日 星期 星期 几? Jīntiān jǐ nián jǐ yuè jǐ rì xīngqī jǐ?</span> (for the long form) | ||
To ask for the anniversary date we will say: | To ask for the anniversary date we will say: | ||
* <span class="notranslate">你的生日是几月几日? Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ rì ?</span> | * <span class="notranslate">你的生日是几月几日? Nǐ de shēngrì shì jǐ yuè jǐ rì ?</span> | ||
And the answer: | And the answer: | ||
Line 251: | Line 270: | ||
===Which calendar is used in China?=== | ===Which calendar is used in China?=== | ||
The Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar. | The Chinese calendar is a lunar calendar. | ||
Line 258: | Line 275: | ||
For work and administration, the so-called "solar calendar" is used. | For work and administration, the so-called "solar calendar" is used. | ||
=="How old are you?" in Chinese== | =="How old are you?" in Mandarin Chinese== | ||
* <span class="notranslate">你 多大? Nǐ duō dà?</span> | * <span class="notranslate">你 多大? Nǐ duō dà?</span> | ||
<blockquote>How old are you?</blockquote> | <blockquote>How old are you?</blockquote> | ||
The adjectival verb <span class="notranslate" | The adjectival verb <span class="notranslate">大 dà</span> can be translated as "to be big" in the sense of size and age. | ||
* <span class="notranslate">中国 很大 Zhōngguó Hěn dà</span> | * <span class="notranslate">中国 很大 Zhōngguó Hěn dà</span> | ||
<blockquote>China is very big.</blockquote> | <blockquote>China is very big.</blockquote> | ||
In Chinese, the word <span class="notranslate" | In Chinese, the word <span class="notranslate">多 duō</span> can also be translated as "how many?" when he is in front of a verb. | ||
The answer to the question is built without verb: | |||
<code>Subject + number + <span class="notranslate">岁 (suì)</span>.</code> | |||
Example: | Example: | ||
Line 287: | Line 298: | ||
<blockquote>I am 17 years old </blockquote> | <blockquote>I am 17 years old </blockquote> | ||
When we talk to a child, we can | When we talk to a child, we can also say : | ||
* <span class="notranslate">你 几岁? Nǐ jǐ suì?</span> | * <span class="notranslate">你 几岁? Nǐ jǐ suì?</span> | ||
<blockquote>How old are you?</blockquote> | <blockquote>How old are you?</blockquote> | ||
In reality, the interrogative word "how much?" <span class="notranslate">几 jǐ</span> is used when the response is estimated to be less than 10 (approximately). | |||
==How to pronounce years and phone numbers in Chinese== | For an answer greater than ten, there is another interrogative word that is constructed with <span class="notranslate">多 duō</span>. | ||
==How to pronounce years and phone numbers in Mandarin Chinese== | |||
When pronuncing a phone number or a year, it must be done digit by digit. | When pronuncing a phone number or a year, it must be done digit by digit. | ||
When pronuncing phone numbers for instance, the Chinese often replace "<span class="notranslate">一</span>" by "<span class="notranslate">幺 <yāo></span>". | |||
The year "<span class="notranslate">2014</span>" is <span class="notranslate">二〇一四(年) ‹ èr líng yī sì (nián) › and not "<span class="notranslate">二千〇一十四</span>". | |||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
http://www.chine-culture.com/chinois/cours-de-chinois-5-grammaire.php | |||
https://chine.in/mandarin/methode/index.php?lecon=6 | |||