Numbers pop up everywhere in Mandarin: buying fruit, telling the time, sharing your phone number, or saying your age. In this A1 lesson, you’ll learn the core numbers (0–99), the super-useful measure word 个, when to use 两 vs 二, how to ask “how many” with 几, and everyday uses like prices, phone numbers, time, and age. Short, simple patterns + lots of practice = counting made easy!

Numbers 0–10: Your building blocks

Memorize these first. They’re the base for everything else.

• 0 零 líng
• 1 一 yī
• 2 二 èr
• 3 三 sān
• 4 四 sì
• 5 五 wǔ
• 6 六 liù
• 7 七 qī
• 8 八 bā
• 9 九 jiǔ
• 10 十 shí

Notice the short, clean forms. Once you know these, 11–99 is mostly a pattern.

Two ways to say “2”: 二 vs 两

• 二 (èr) is the digit “2.” Use it when saying numbers, dates, addresses, and in 20, 200, etc. Example: 22 二十二.
• 两 (liǎng) is “two of” before measure words or certain nouns. Example: 两个 (two of something), 两点 (2 o’clock), 两百 (200).

Think: 两 + measure word/noun; 二 = the digit.

二个苹果 → 两个苹果 Use 两 before measure words.

现在点。

How to count things: numbers + measure words

Mandarin uses measure words between the number and the noun.

• 个 is the general measure word: 三个老师 (three teachers)
• 本 is for books: 两本书 (two books)
• 杯 is for cups/glasses: 一杯茶 (a cup of tea)
• 只 is common for animals: 三只猫 (three cats)

Pattern: Subject + 有 + number + measure word + noun.

Example: 我有四个苹果。 (I have four apples.)

我有个朋友。

Asking “how many” with 几 (jǐ)

Use 几 + measure word + noun to ask about small quantities (usually under 10).

• 你有几个兄弟姐妹？ (How many siblings do you have?)
• 你要几杯茶？ (How many cups of tea do you want?)

Answer with a number: 我有两个。/ 我要一杯。

Prices and money: 元 vs 块

• 元 (yuán) = formal “yuan.” 块 (kuài) = colloquial “bucks.” Both mean RMB.
• Ask price: 这个多少钱？ (How much is this?)
• Answer: 十五块。/ 三十元。 (15 kuai / 30 yuan)

If you want to sound natural in everyday speech, use 块.

一共块。

Phone numbers: cultural note

• Digits are read one by one: 1308 → 一 三 零 八 (yī sān líng bā)
• In phone numbers, 1 is often read as 幺 (yāo) instead of 一 to avoid confusion. Example: 幺 三 八 → 138.
• 0 is 零 (líng). 2 is usually 二 (èr) in phone numbers.

Example reading: 1380 → 幺 三 八 零.

Time and age

• Time: 现在三点。/ 现在两点。 (Now it’s 3 o’clock / 2 o’clock.)
• Age: 我二十三岁。 (I am 23 years old.) If it’s just “two years old,” use 两岁.

Pattern for age: Subject + number + 岁.

Wrap-up practice

• Count items with measure words: 我有五个问题。/ 她要两杯水。
• Ask small quantities with 几: 你有几个同事？
• Prices with 元/块: 这个二十块。
• Phone digits one by one: 幺 三 八 零...
• Time and age: 现在六点。/ 他十八岁。

You’ve got the core tools to use numbers everywhere in Mandarin. Keep mixing them into daily mini-conversations: count your snacks, ask prices, say times—numbers will stick fast when you use them often. 加油! (Keep it up!)