Numeral Systems and Quantity Expression in Mandarin Chinese

Cardinal Numbers

Mandarin Chinese utilizes a base-10 numeral system. Numbers are expressed using single characters for 0-9 (零 líng, 一 yī, 二 èr, 三 sān, 四 sì, 五 wǔ, 六 liù, 七 qī, 八 bā, 九 jiǔ) and combinations of these characters for larger numbers. The system is highly regular, with place value indicated by position. Tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on are expressed using specific characters (十 shí, 百 bǎi, 千 qiān, 万 wàn, etc.).

Measurement Words (Classifiers)

Mandarin Chinese requires the use of measure words (classifiers) when counting nouns. These classifiers vary depending on the type of object being counted. For example, 个 gè is a general classifier used for many objects, while 条 tiáo is used for long, thin objects like fish or rivers, and 本 běn for books. The classifier is placed between the number and the noun.

• Example: 三个苹果 (sān gè píngguǒ) - three apples. Here, 个 (gè) is the classifier for apples.

Expressing Large Numbers

For extremely large numbers, Mandarin Chinese uses a system that differs somewhat from Western systems, utilizing characters such as 亿 yì (100 million) and 兆 zhào (1 trillion). The precise usage and grouping of digits can differ slightly depending on context.

Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers (first, second, third, etc.) are formed by adding the suffix 第 dì to the cardinal numbers. For example, 第一位 (dì yī wèi) means "first place".

Numerical Expressions in Context

The manner in which quantity is expressed in Mandarin can be influenced by context. This includes the level of formality, the specific object being counted, and the overall sentence structure. Specialized vocabulary may also be used depending on the subject.