九十 (jiǔshí) means ninety in Mandarin. It is formed by combining the characters 九 (nine) and 十 (ten), which reflects the base-ten counting system used in Chinese. This word is commonly used in contexts such as counting, telling time, or discussing age.
HSK 1, 16 strokes, Hard
jiǔshí(jiu3shi2) T3
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May 27, 2026
九十jiǔshí(jiu3shi2)
九十 (jiǔshí) means ninety in Mandarin. It is formed by combining the characters 九 (nine) and 十 (ten), which reflects the base-ten counting system used in Chinese. This word is commonly used in contexts such as counting, telling time, or discussing age.
Strokes16Frequency#—DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
Numbers hold significant value in Chinese culture, often associated with luck or fortune. The number ninety can symbolize longevity, as reaching the age of ninety is considered a blessing.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant '90' made of nine large blocks stacked on top of ten smaller ones. The number '9' stands tall, showing it’s made of blocks 1 through 9, and '10' supports it below. The pronunciation 'jiǔshí' sounds like 'jew sh', as if a jeweler is counting his shiny treasures up to ninety.
About 九十
九十Simplified
16Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L1ElementaryHSKKL1CEFRA1
Podcast: 九十
Podcast: 九十
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AI Study Notes for 九十
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant '90' made of nine large blocks stacked on top of ten smaller ones. The number '9' stands tall, showing it’s made of blocks 1 through 9, and '10' supports it below. The pronunciation 'jiǔshí' sounds like 'jew sh', as if a jeweler is counting his shiny treasures up to ninety.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 九十 with other numbers, especially when counting. It is important to pronounce the tones correctly; jiǔ (九) has a falling tone while shí (十) has a rising tone. This word is used in both formal and informal settings.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 1 word, focus on recognizing and pronouncing 九十 correctly, as well as using it in simple sentences related to age or quantity. It connects well to numbers you already know, such as 一 (one) and 二 (two).
Cultural Note
Numbers hold significant value in Chinese culture, often associated with luck or fortune. The number ninety can symbolize longevity, as reaching the age of ninety is considered a blessing.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce the tones, saying 'jiushi' instead of 'jiǔshí'. Additionally, some might confuse 九十 with other similar numbers, such as 八十 (bāshí, eighty). Always double-check the tones and components when counting.
AI-enhanced 2026-05-27
Pronunciation of 九十
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Cultural Notes for 九十
🏮Cultural insight
Numbers hold significant value in Chinese culture, often associated with luck or fortune. The number ninety can symbolize longevity, as reaching the age of ninety is considered a blessing.
Frequently Asked Questions about 九十
Make sure to say 'jiǔ' with a falling tone and 'shí' with a rising tone.
Yes, it's commonly used when discussing ages or quantities.
九十个 means ninety (of something), where 个 is a measure word.
