Chinese Numbers Explained
Arithmetic in Chinese uses the same four basic operations as in English. In every arithmetic expression, equals is expressed as
meaning "is equal to".
Addition
Addition uses
for "plus":
| 2 + 3 = 5 |
|---|
| two | plus | three | equals | five |
| 二 | 加 | 三 | 等于 | 五 |
| èr | jiā | sān | děng yú | wŭ |
| 10 + 8 = 18 |
|---|
| ten | plus | eight | equals | eighteen |
| 十 | 加 | 八 | 等于 | 十八 |
| shí | jiā | bā | děng yú | shí bā |
Subtraction
Subtraction uses
for "minus":
| 9 − 4 = 5 |
|---|
| nine | minus | four | equals | five |
| 九 | 减 | 四 | 等于 | 五 |
| jiŭ | jiǎn | sì | děng yú | wŭ |
| 20 − 7 = 13 |
|---|
| twenty | minus | seven | equals | thirteen |
| 二十 | 减 | 七 | 等于 | 十三 |
| èr shí | jiǎn | qī | děng yú | shí sān |
Multiplication
Multiplication uses
for "times":
| 3 × 4 = 12 |
|---|
| three | times | four | equals | twelve |
| 三 | 乘以 | 四 | 等于 | 十二 |
| sān | chéng yǐ | sì | děng yú | shí èr |
| 6 × 7 = 42 |
|---|
| six | times | seven | equals | forty-two |
| 六 | 乘以 | 七 | 等于 | 四十二 |
| liù | chéng yǐ | qī | děng yú | sì shí èr |
Division
Division uses
for "divided by":
| 12 ÷ 3 = 4 |
|---|
| twelve | divided by | three | equals | four |
| 十二 | 除以 | 三 | 等于 | 四 |
| shí èr | chú yǐ | sān | děng yú | sì |
| 100 ÷ 5 = 20 |
|---|
| one hundred | divided by | five | equals | twenty |
| 一百 | 除以 | 五 | 等于 | 二十 |
| yī bǎi | chú yǐ | wŭ | děng yú | èr shí |
Download
Chinese Numbers for iPhone & iPad
lets 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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