shùcí
Numerals (数词)
Chinese numerals are used to count objects, express time, and show order. Key rule for HSK 1: use 两 before measure words in everyday counting (两个人, 两本书), but use 二 in compound numbers like 二十 and in ordinals like 第二.
核心例句
一节课、两个小时、三个同学——数字无处不在，中文的数词其实很有规律！
Yī jié kè, liǎng ge xiǎoshí, sān ge tóngxué — shùzì wúchù bú zài, Zhōngwén de shùcí qíshí hěn yǒu guīlǜ!
One class, two hours, three classmates — numbers are everywhere, and Chinese numerals actually follow clear patterns!
HSK 1
HSK 1
2
2 个结构
10
10 个练习
课程摘要
Chinese numerals are used to count objects, express time, and show order. Key rule for HSK 1: use 两 before measure words in everyday counting (两个人, 两本书), but use 二 in compound numbers like 二十 and in ordinals like 第二.
Chinese numerals follow a regular decimal system. The basic numbers 零 (0) through 十 (10), then 百 (100), 千 (1,000), and 万 (10,000) are all HSK 1 vocabulary.
Key distinction — 二 vs 两: Both mean 'two', but they are NOT interchangeable. - 两 is used before measure words: 两个人, 两本书, 两杯水. - 二 is used in compound numbers such as 二十 (20) and 三十二 (32), and in ordinals such as 第二 (second). - For phone numbers, floor numbers, and counting aloud: 二 is standard.
For time expressions: 八点 (8 o'clock), 八点半 (8:30), 差五分九点 (8:55 / five to nine). Note that 两 is used for 2 o'clock: 两点, not 二点 (in standard speech).
When NOT to use 两 at HSK 1: Never say 两十 — it should be 二十. For beginner counting, use 二 in compound numbers like 二十 and 三十二, and use 两 before measure words like 两个 and 两本.
Ordinal numbers: Add 第 before the number — 第一名 (first place), 第三排 (third row). This is easy to remember: 第 + number = ordinal.
语法句型
Numeral + measure word + noun
The standard pattern for counting objects. A measure word is always needed between the numeral and the noun.
我买了两件衣服。
Wǒ mǎi le liǎng jiàn yīfu.
I bought two pieces of clothing.
老师有五个学生。
Lǎoshī yǒu wǔ ge xuéshēng.
The teacher has five students.
她买了两本书。
Tā mǎi le liǎng běn shū.
She bought two books.
语法句型
Numeral + o'clock / Numeral + month + numeral + date
Numerals are also used for time and dates. Note: 两点 for 2 o'clock (not 二点), and 十二月 (December).
现在八点半，我要去上课了。
Xiànzài bā diǎn bàn, wǒ yào qù shàngkè le.
It's 8:30 now — I need to go to class.
我们两点在咖啡店见面吧。
Wǒmen liǎng diǎn zài kāfēidiàn jiànmiàn ba.
Let's meet at the coffee shop at 2 o'clock.
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