The first ten numbers
The basic numbers are short and combine predictably. The tone marks below are part of the pronunciation, so practice them with the audio rather than reading the letters as English.
For 11, say ten-one: 十一 shíyī. For 20, say two-ten: 二十 èrshí. The same pattern continues: 25 is 二十五 èrshíwǔ, literally two tens five.
Dates go from large to small
Mandarin normally says year, month, then day. Put 年 nián after the year, 月 yuè after the month, and 号 hào or 日 rì after the day.
èr líng èr liù nián qī yuè èr shí hào — July 20, 2026
Jīntiān shì jǐ yuè jǐ hào? — What is today's date?
Wǒ de shēngrì shì wǔ yuè sān hào. — My birthday is May 3.
Years are usually read digit by digit. Say 2026 as two-zero-two-six, not as a grouped number. In conversation, 号 is common; 日 sounds more formal or written.
Clock time and appointments
Use 点 diǎn after the hour and 分 fēn after the minutes. Add 半 bàn for half past and 刻 kè for a quarter. The word 现在 xiànzài means “now”.
- 现在几点？ Xiànzài jǐ diǎn? — What time is it now?
- 三点半 sān diǎn bàn — 3:30
- 下午两点十五分 xiàwǔ liǎng diǎn shíwǔ fēn — 2:15 p.m.
For the number two before a measure word or time unit, 两 liǎng is often more natural than 二 èr: 两点 means two o'clock. Use 二 when counting or reading a number in isolation.
Prices and phone numbers
Prices use 块 kuài or 元 yuán for yuan, and 毛 máo or 角 jiǎo for a tenth of a yuan. In shops, you may hear 多少钱？ for “how much does it cost?”
Phone numbers are read one digit at a time. The digit 1 is often pronounced yāo instead of yī so it is easier to distinguish from 7 over a bad connection. Do not group the number as an English speaker might.