Why Learn How to Count in Chinese? Use Your Fingers!
One of the most important things to learn in a new language, and Chinese is no exception, is the number system and learning how to count. You use numbers all the time; shopping, getting on a bus, talking about time, getting directions and even at customs. This means learning how to count can help you as soon as you get off the plane in China. Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to learn and remember how to say all those words right away, or you had a system that could help you when people just don’t understand your spoken Chinese? Well there is. Because of the many language dialects in China, along with it being sometimes quite crowded and noisy, a kind of counting sign language has developed through the years to help native speakers understand and clarify each other’s meanings.
One / yi / 一
This is of course the number one, not much different from what we English speakers would do for number one.
Two / er / 二
Number two, again a lot like we would do.
Three / san / 三
Both are common in China, the important thing is of course, the number of fingers. Learn the one you like.
Four / si / 四
Four fingers, so must be four. Can you guess what five will look like?
Five / wu / 五
Did you guess right?????
Six / liu / 六
Six is where we start learning new things.
Seven / qi / 七
Here start to learn about some regional differences. The top one tends to be used in north China and the bottom one is used more in south China.
Eight / ba / 八
Here we have eight, just remember, guns aren’t allowed in China.
Nine / jiu / 九
Both pictures are nine in North China, but only the top one is nine in the south. Compare 9 to 7 and see the one ambiguity in this counting system.
Ten / shi / 十
Ten! Two different ways again, both are ok in the north, while the one on top tends to be more popular in the south.
Hover your cursor over the Chinese Characters.
Congratulations! You just learned how to count to ten in Chinese. Your Chinese is coming along nicely. Hope to see you here at EMW Cultural Immersions’ Chinese language camps, we have lots more we want to teach you.
