Counting in Chinese isn't inherently difficult. If you're planning a trip to Chine soon, it's worth knowing how to count from 1 to 10, at least for negotiating, asking a price, or requesting a quantity. In Chine, numbers are generally written like Arabic numerals but you'll also find them in the form of Chinese characters.

In Chine, the counting method is quite specific and hand gestures are very commonly used. If you can't pronounce or understand Chinese numbers, the method of counting on your fingers will save you in many situations!

To the question "Is it difficult to know how to count in Chinese?", I would tell you it's certainly not the most insurmountable challenge. In just a few minutes you should be able to recognize the sounds, and with a bit of practice, reproduce them perfectly to make yourself understood.

Enough chitchat, let's get to the numbers!

Chinese numbers from 1 to 10

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

Listen to the audio below to familiarize yourself with the pronunciation of Chinese numerals:

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Counting on your fingers from 1 to 10

As I mentioned in the introduction, the Chinese frequently use their hands to count and communicate, especially when asking for a quantity or price. It's essential to understand and master this gesture language which will help you in many situations. In Western countries, we typically use one hand to count up to 5 and the second hand to count from 5 to 10. In Chine, a single hand can be used to count from 1 to 10. Quite practical for the one-armed!

Because we do things properly here, here are images showing the correct finger positions to count from 1 to 10 in Chine: