Chinese Numbers: Lucky Numbers, Hand Signs & Tally Marks
Chinese numbers are useful for much more than counting. In China, you will see numbers in prices, phone numbers, room numbers, internet slang, red envelopes, and even hand gestures.
Some numbers also carry cultural meanings. Eight is linked with good fortune, while four is often considered unlucky. Chinese speakers can also show numbers from 1 to 10 with one hand and count groups of five by writing the character 正.
This guide explains how Chinese numbers work and what international students are likely to encounter in daily life.
Quick Answer: How Do Chinese Numbers Work?
The basic Chinese numbers are simple: 一 (yī) is 1, 二 (èr) is 2, and 十 (shí) is 10.
Chinese also has some number habits that may surprise new learners. Chinese uses 万 (wàn) for 10,000. People can also show 1–10 with one hand, attach meanings to certain numbers, and use 正 as a five-stroke tally mark.
What Are the Numbers 0 to 10 in Chinese?
Start with these basic numbers:
| Number | Chinese | Pinyin |
| 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 |
Once you know 1–10, many larger numbers become simple combinations.
For example:
- 11: 十一 (shí yī)
- 20: 二十 (èr shí)
- 25: 二十五 (èr shí wǔ)
- 100: 一百 (yì bǎi)
- 1,000: 一千 (yì qiān)
New to Mandarin? Our beginner’s guide to learning Chinese explains pinyin, tones, Chinese characters, and basic words.
Why Can 2 Be 二 or 两?
Chinese has two common ways to say two: 二 (èr) and 两 (liǎng).
Use 二 when reading numbers, counting in sequence, or saying things such as:
二十
èr shí
20
二月
èr yuè
February
Use 两 before many measure words and quantities:
两个人
liǎng ge rén
two people
两杯茶
liǎng bēi chá
two cups of tea
You will also commonly hear 两百 for 200 and 两千 for 2,000.
How Do Large Chinese Numbers Work With Money?
Understanding 万 (wàn) is especially useful when dealing with money in China.
English speakers usually group large numbers around thousands and millions. Chinese commonly groups them around 10,000 instead.
This means a price or salary written as 10万 is not 10,000 yuan. It is 100,000 yuan.
Here is how the main units grow:
| Number | Chinese | Pinyin |
| 1 | 一 | yī |
| 10 | 十 | shí |
| 100 | 百 | bǎi |
| 1,000 | 千 | qiān |
| 10,000 | 万 | wàn |
| 100,000 | 十万 | shí wàn |
| 1,000,000 | 一百万 | yì bǎi wàn |
| 10,000,000 | 一千万 | yì qiān wàn |
| 100,000,000 | 一亿 | yí yì |
The key change happens at 10,000.
For example:
1万 = 10,000
10万 = 100,000
100万 = 1,000,000
You may see 万 when reading salaries, tuition figures, property prices, business values, social media views, and university statistics.
How Do Chinese People Count to 10 With One Hand?
One useful feature of Chinese number culture is that people can show 1 to 10 with one hand.
The numbers 1–5 are straightforward. People usually show the same number of fingers. The special gestures begin with 6.
Hand signs for 7–10 can look different depending on where you are in China. Northern and southern regions may use different gestures for the same number, so there is no single version used everywhere.
These gestures are useful for discussing prices and ordering food, especially in noisy places.
Which Chinese Numbers Have Special Meanings?
Some Chinese numbers have special meanings because their pronunciation resembles other Chinese words or phrases.
These associations appear in gifts, phone numbers, internet slang, relationships, business, and celebrations. However, they are cultural associations rather than rules that every Chinese person follows.
What Are the Lucky Numbers in China?
The best-known Chinese lucky numbers include 6, 8, and 9.
8 — 八 (bā): wealth and prosperity
Eight has a strong association with 发 (fā), a word connected with becoming prosperous or making a fortune.
Because of this, people may like phone numbers, dates, addresses, or prices that contain 8.
Repeated 8s, such as 88, 888, or 8888, can make that lucky association even stronger.
6 — 六 (liù): things going smoothly
Six is associated with smooth progress and good results.
The expression 六六大顺 (liù liù dà shùn) expresses the hope that everything will go smoothly.
This also helps explain why repeated 6s can carry positive meanings.
9 — 九 (jiǔ): something long-lasting
九 (jiǔ), nine, sounds the same as 久 (jiǔ), meaning long-lasting or for a long time.
Because of this, 9 can appear in romantic or celebratory numbers connected with lasting relationships and good wishes.
Why Is 4 Considered an Unlucky Number in China?
Four is often considered unlucky because 四 (sì), four, sounds similar to 死 (sǐ), meaning death.
Some people therefore avoid 4 in gifts, phone numbers, room numbers, or important occasions.
However, this is a cultural belief, not an official rule.
Beijing offers a useful example. Its official building-numbering system requires sequential numbering rather than simply removing numbers that people may consider unlucky. Numbers such as 4 and 13 therefore do not automatically disappear from official addresses.
You can read more about lucky numbers and other traditions in our Chinese Customs and Traditions guide.
Beijing introduced its official Door and Building Number Plate Setting Standard (DB11/T 856-2012) in 2012.
So, while understanding the association with 4 is useful, you do not need to treat every appearance of the number as something negative.
What Do 666, 520, 1314 and Other Chinese Number Codes Mean?
Numbers also appear as slang and wordplay in Chinese messages and online culture.
| Number | Common Meaning | Why? |
| 666 | Awesome, impressive, well played | 六 (liù) is associated with 溜, meaning smooth or skillful |
| 168 | Prosperity along the way | Associated with 一路发, “prosper all the way” |
| 520 | I love you | Sounds loosely like 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ) |
| 1314 | For a lifetime / forever | Sounds like 一生一世 (yì shēng yí shì) |
| 5201314 | I love you for a lifetime | Combines 520 and 1314 |
| 99 / 999 | Long-lasting | 九 (jiǔ) sounds like 久 (jiǔ), “long-lasting” |
666 can be especially confusing for international students.
In Chinese online slang, 666 is usually positive. People use it in gaming, livestreams, messages, and comments to praise something skillful or impressive.
520 has become one of the best-known romantic number codes.
It represents:
我爱你
wǒ ài nǐ
I love you
May 20, written 5/20, has also become associated with romance in Chinese online culture.
1314 represents:
一生一世
yì shēng yí shì
for one lifetime / forever
Put them together and you get:
5201314
I love you for a lifetime.
Where Do Chinese Numbers Matter in Daily Life?
International students meet numbers constantly in China: prices, dorm rooms, phone numbers, transfers, delivery messages, dates, and gifts.
One of the clearest examples of number culture appears in red envelopes.
How Much Money Should You Put in a Chinese Red Envelope?
The correct red-envelope amount depends on the situation.
The amount depends on the event, your relationship with the person, local customs, and your own budget.
However, symbolic numbers can influence the amount.
People may choose amounts containing:
- 6 for smooth progress
- 8 for good fortune
- 9 for something long-lasting
- 520 for a romantic message
Amounts such as 66, 88, 168, 188, 288, 666, 888, or 999 may therefore carry an extra symbolic meaning.
The right amount still depends on the situation. A gift between friends may be much smaller than a wedding gift or one from close family.
For international students, the easiest rule is simple: ask a Chinese friend what is normal for that particular event.
For a celebratory red envelope, it is usually safer to avoid amounts built around 4.
How Do Chinese People Use Tally Marks?
Chinese people often use the character 正 (zhèng) as a tally mark.
You may see it when counting votes, attendance, scores, customers, or other items.
正 has five strokes. Each new count adds one stroke. Once the character is complete, it represents five.
For example:
正 = 5
正 正 = 10
正 正 正 = 15
It works much like the five-line tally system used in many other countries. The main difference is that the five strokes form a Chinese character.
Why Was 正 Chosen?
The practical reason is simple: 正 has five clear strokes, so one completed character conveniently represents five counts.
The exact origin of this tally system is uncertain.
One widely told explanation connects it with theatres in Shanghai during the late Qing and early Republican periods. Workers reportedly added one stroke for each customer until they completed a 正 for every five people.
The exact historical origin is uncertain, but the five-stroke system is still easy to recognize and use today.
Related Articles
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- Chinese Customs and Traditions: A Guide for International Students
- How to Learn Chinese: A Beginner’s Guide
- Best Way to Learn Chinese
- What Is HSK? Chinese Proficiency Levels Explained
- Chinese Language Programs in China
Want to Learn Chinese in China?
Numbers become much easier when you see and hear them every day. Students who study Chinese in China use Mandarin for prices, food, transport, classes, shopping, and conversations with local friends.
Explore Chinese Language Programs in China if you want to learn Mandarin through daily practice and immersion. You can also explore other options to study in china.
ApplyForChina can help international students compare language programs, universities, and application options.
Pertanyaan yang Sering Diajukan
They are 一 yī, 二 èr, 三 sān, 四 sì, 五 wǔ, 六 liù, 七 qī, 八 bā, 九 jiǔ, and 十 shí.
万 (wàn) is the standard Chinese unit for 10,000. This means large Chinese numbers often group around ten-thousands rather than thousands.
Eight is associated by sound with 发 (fā), a word linked with prosperity and making a fortune.
四 (sì), four, sounds similar to 死 (sǐ), meaning death. Some people therefore avoid 4 in gifts and special occasions.
In Chinese internet slang, 666 usually means something like awesome, impressive, or well played.
Yes. Chinese number hand signs allow people to show 1 through 10 with one hand. Some signs vary by region.
520 represents 我爱你, or I love you. 1314 represents 一生一世, meaning for a lifetime or forever.
正 has five strokes. Each stroke can represent one count, so one completed 正 represents five.