Chinese numerals are words and characters used to denote numbers in written Chinese. Speakers of Chinese languages use three written numeral systems: the international system of Arabic numerals, and two indigenous systems ('small writing' 小写, and 'big writing' 大写).
The more familiar indigenous system is based on Chinese characters that correspond to numerals in the spoken language. These may be shared with other languages of the Chinese cultural sphere such as Korean, Japanese, and Vietnamese. Most people and institutions in China primarily use the Arabic or mixed Arabic-Chinese systems for convenience, with traditional Chinese numerals used in finance, mainly for writing amounts on cheques, banknotes, some ceremonial occasions, some boxes, and on commercials.
The other indigenous system consists of the Suzhou numerals, or huama, a positional system, the only surviving form of the rod numerals. These were once used by Chinese mathematicians, and later by merchants in Chinese markets, such as those in Hong Kong until the 1990s, but were gradually supplanted by Arabic numerals.
Basic counting in Chinese Traditionally, the Chinese numeral system is a sign-value notation consisting of the same Chinese characters used by the Chinese written language to write spoken numbers. Similar to spelling-out numbers in English (e.g., "one thousand nine hundred forty-five"), it is not an independent system per se. Since it reflects spoken language, it generally does not use the positional system as in Arabic numerals, in the same way that spelling out numbers in English does not. In modern times, Chinese numerals may adopt a positional system in some rare contexts such as sequence numbers.
Ordinary numerals There are characters representing the numbers zero through nine, and other characters representing powers of ten such as tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands and hundred millions. There are two sets of characters for ordinary Chinese numerals: one for everyday writing, known as (), and another for use in commercial, accounting or financial contexts, known as ().
Financial numerals The financial numerals were developed by Wu Zetian () and were further refined by the Hongwu Emperor (). They were adopted because the characters used for writing everyday numerals are geometrically simple, so simply using those numerals cannot prevent forgeries in the same way spelling numbers out in English would. A forger could easily change the characters (30) to (5000) by adding a few strokes. That would not be possible when writing using the financial characters (30) and (5000). They are also referred to as "banker's numerals" or "anti-fraud numerals". For the same reason, rod numerals were never used in commercial records. Outside China, the financial numerals were adopted in Korea and in Japan for similar purposes.
+ Comparison of ordinary Chinese numerals Value Financial Everyday Pinyin (Mandarin) Jyutping (Cantonese) Tâi-lô (Hokkien) Wugniu (Shanghainese) Notes Traditional Simplified Traditional Simplified 0 or Usually is preferred, but in some areas, 〇 may be a more common informal way to represent zero. is more often used in schools. 1 Also (obsolete financial), can be easily manipulated into or . 2 Also (obsolete, financial), can be easily manipulated into or . Also .3 Also (obsolete financial), which can be easily manipulated into or . 4 Also (obsolete financial).5 6 7 8 9 10 Although some people use as financial, it is not ideal because it can be easily manipulated into or .100 1,000 10 Chinese numbers group by ten-thousands; see Reading and transcribing numbers below.10 10 For variant meanings and words for higher values, see Large numbers below.
Regional, contextual, and historic variation + Variation in Chinese numerals Financial Normal Value Pinyin Standard alternative Notes 0 Historically, the use of for 'zero' predates . This is now archaic in most varieties of Chinese, but it is still used in most of Southern Min. 0 Literally 'a hole', is analogous to the shape of and , it is used to unambiguously pronounce 0 in radio communication. 1 Literally 'the smallest', it is used to unambiguously pronounce 1 in radio communication. This usage is not observed in Cantonese except for , which refers to a special winning hand in mahjong. 1 In most Min varieties, there are two words meaning 'one'. For example, in Hokkien, is used before a classifier: 'one person' is , not . In written Hokkien, is often used for both and , but some authors differentiate, writing for and for . 2 Used instead of before a classifier. For example, 'two people' is , not . However, in some dialects such as Shanghainese, is the generic term used for two in most contexts, such as and not . It appears where 'a pair of' might in English, but is always used in such cases. It is also used for numbers, with usage varying from dialect to dialect, even person to person. For example, '2222' can be read as , , or even in Mandarin. It is used to unambiguously pronounce 2 in radio communication. 2 In regional dialects of Northeastern Mandarin, represents a "lazy" pronunciation of within the local dialect. It can be used as an alternative for , e.g. , as opposed to . A measure word never follows . 3 In regional dialects of Northeastern Mandarin, represents a "lazy" pronunciation of three within the local dialect. It can be used as a general number to represent 'three', e.g.; or as an alternative for , e.g. , as opposed to ). A measure word never follows . 7 Literally 'a turn' or 'a walking stick' and is analogous to the shape of and , it is used to unambiguously pronounce 7 in radio communication. 9 Literally 'a hook' and is analogous to the shape of , it is used to unambiguously pronounce 9 in radio communication.10 In spoken Cantonese, can be used in place of when it is used in the middle of a number, preceded by a multiplier and followed by a ones digit, e.g. '63', it is not used by itself to mean 10. This usage is not observed in Mandarin.20A contraction of . The written form is still used to refer to dates, especially Chinese calendar dates. Spoken form is still used in various dialects of Chinese. See Reading and transcribing numbers section below. In spoken Cantonese, can be used in place of when followed by another digit such as in the numbers 21–29, e.g. '23'; a measure word, e.g. ; a noun, or in a phrase like 'twenty-something'. It is not used by itself to mean 20. is still used in place of in Southern Min and Wu. is a rare variant.30A contraction of . The written form is still used to abbreviate date references in Chinese. For example, May 30 Movement (). The spoken form is still used in various dialects of Chinese. In spoken Cantonese, can be used in place of when followed by another digit such as in numbers 31–39, a measure word (e.g. ), a noun, or in phrases like 'thirty-something'. It is not used by itself to mean 30. When spoken is pronounced as . Thus '31', is pronounced as .40A contraction of . Found in historical writings written in Literary Chinese. Spoken form is still used in various dialects of Chinese, albeit very rare. See Reading and transcribing numbers section below. In spoken Cantonese can be used in place of when followed by another digit such as in numbers 41–49, a measure word (e.g. ), a noun, or in phrases like 'forty-something', it is not used by itself to mean 40. When spoken, is pronounced as . Thus , is pronounced as . Similarly, in Southern Min 41 can be referred to as .200Very rarely used; one example is in the name of a library in Huzhou, .
Powers of 10 Large numbers
For numbers larger than 10,000, similarly to the long and short scales in the West, there have been four systems in ancient and modern usage. The original one, with unique names for all powers of ten up to the 14th, is ascribed to the Yellow Emperor in the 6th century book by Zhen Luan, . In modern Chinese, only the second system is used, in which the same ancient names are used, but each represents a myriad, times the previous: Character Factor of increase Character (S) Pinyin Jyutping Tai Lo Wugniu AlternativeRank1234567891011=n"short scale" ()10410510610710810910101011101210131014=10n+3
Each numeral is 10 () times the previous."myriad scale" (, current usage)104108101210161020102410281032103610401044=104n
Each numeral is 10,000 () times the previous."mid-scale" ()104108101610241032104010481056106410721080=108(n-1)
Starting with , each numeral is 108 () times the previous."long scale" ()104108101610321064101281025610512101024102048104096=102n+1
Each numeral is the square of the previous. This is similar to the -yllion system. In practice, this situation does not lead to ambiguity, with the exception of , which means 1012 according to the system in common usage throughout Chinese communities as well as in Japan and Korea, but has also been used for 106 in recent years (especially in mainland China for megabyte). To avoid ambiguity, the PRC government never uses this character in official documents, but uses or instead. Partly due to this, combinations of and are often used instead of the larger units of the traditional system as well, for example instead of . The ROC government in Taiwan uses to mean 1012 in official documents.
Large numbers from Buddhism
Numerals beyond zǎi come from Buddhist texts in Sanskrit, but are mostly found in ancient texts. Some of the following words are still being used today, but may have transferred meanings.
Character Pinyin Jyutping Tai Lo Shanghainese Value Noteske̍k1048Literally 'extreme'.hîng-hô-sua1052Literally 'sands of the Ganges', a metaphor used in a number of Buddhist texts referring to many individual grains of sanda-sing-kîa1-sen-ji1056From Sanskrit 'innumerable', 'infinite'ná-iû-thann1060From Sanskrit 'myriad'put-khó-su-gī1064Literally translated as "unfathomable". This word is commonly used in Chinese as a chengyu, meaning "unimaginable", instead of its original meaning of the number 1064.bû-liōng tāi-siàu1068 literally 'without measure', and can mean 1068. This word is also commonly used in Chinese as a commendatory term, means 'no upper limit'. e.g.: 'a great future'. 'a large number', and can mean 1072.
Small numbers The following are characters used to denote small order of magnitude in Chinese historically. With the introduction of SI units, some of them have been incorporated as SI prefixes, while the rest have fallen into disuse.
CharactersPinyin Value Notesmò10−12(Ancient Chinese) Replaced by for the SI prefix pico-.miǎo10−11(Ancient Chinese)āi10−10(Ancient Chinese)chén10−9Literally 'dust' Replaced by for the SI prefix nano-.shā10−8Literally, "Sand"xiān10−7'fiber'wēi10−6still used, corresponds to the SI prefix micro-.hū10−5(Ancient Chinese)sī10−4also . Literally, "Thread"háo10−3also . still in use, corresponds to the SI prefix milli-.lí10−2still in use, corresponds to the SI prefix centi-.fēn10−1still in use, corresponds to the SI prefix deci-.
Small numbers from Buddhism Characters Pinyin Value Notes10−24'Nirvana's tranquillity' Replaced by for the SI prefix yocto-.10−23From Sanskrit 10−22From Sanskrit 10−21'quiet' Replaced by for the SI prefix zepto-.10−20'void' 10−19Literally 'six virtues'10−18Literally 'brevity', from Sanskrit . Replaced by for SI prefix atto-.10−17Literally 'flick of a finger'. Still commonly used in the phrase 10−16Literally 'moment of breath'. Still commonly used in the chengyu 'many things changed in a very short time'10−15Rarely used in modern Chinese as 'a very short time'. Replaced by for the SI prefix femto-.10−14'hesitation' 10−13'blurred'
SI prefixes