Chinese Numbers Explained
Decimals & Negative Numbers
Decimal numbers - - are straightforward in Chinese. The decimal point is called
(literally "small number point"), but when reading a number aloud you simply say
for the decimal point — the same character used for "hour" in telling the time.
Digits after the decimal point are read one by one, never grouped into larger numbers. So 3.14 would not be "three point fourteen" but rather "three point one four". Other examples:
| 3.14159 |
|---|
| three | point | one | four | one | five | nine |
| 三 | 点 | 一 | 四 | 一 | 五 | 九 |
| sān | diǎn | yī | sì | yī | wŭ | jiŭ |
| 2.718 |
|---|
| two | point | seven | one | eight |
| 二 | 点 | 七 | 一 | 八 |
| èr | diǎn | qī | yī | bā |
Numbers less than one start with
before the decimal point:
| 0.5 |
|---|
| zero | point | five |
| 零 | 点 | 五 |
| líng | diǎn | wŭ |
| 0.25 |
|---|
| zero | point | two | five |
| 零 | 点 | 二 | 五 |
| líng | diǎn | èr | wŭ |
| Decimal Example: 0.301 |
|---|
| zero | point | three | zero | one |
| 零 | 点 | 三 | 零 | 一 |
| líng | diǎn | sān | líng | yī |
Larger numbers work the same way — say the whole number part normally, then 点, then the decimal digits one by one:
| 10.99 |
|---|
| ten | point | nine | nine |
| 十 | 点 | 九 | 九 |
| shí | diǎn | jiŭ | jiŭ |
| 365.25 |
|---|
| three hundred sixty-five | point | two | five |
| 三百六十五 | 点 | 二 | 五 |
| sān bǎi liù shí wŭ | diǎn | èr | wŭ |
If a zero appears within the decimal digits, it is read as
just like any other digit:
| 1.05 |
|---|
| one | point | zero | five |
| 一 | 点 | 零 | 五 |
| yī | diǎn | líng | wŭ |
Negative numbers - - are formed simply by placing
in front of the number. This is the formal and general-purpose word for negative:
| -42 |
|---|
| negative | forty | two |
| 负 | 四十 | 二 |
| fù | sì shí | èr |
Negative decimals combine both constructions — 负 comes first, followed by the full decimal number:
| -0.5 |
|---|
| negative | zero | point | five |
| 负 | 零 | 点 | 五 |
| fù | líng | diǎn | wŭ |
| -3.14 |
|---|
| negative | three | point | one | four |
| 负 | 三 | 点 | 一 | 四 |
| fù | sān | diǎn | yī | sì |
Download the iPhone/iPad App
Chinese Numbers for iPhone & iPad
helps you practice numbers and counting anytime, anywhere you are. Has two modes to input numbers and a challenging game to test your translation skills.
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