Large Numbers: 千, 万, 亿
千、万、亿
Count and express numbers in the thousands, ten-thousands, and hundreds of millions
Chinese groups large numbers in units of 万 (10,000), not thousands. 千 = 1,000, 万 = 10,000, 亿 = 100,000,000. Use 零 for placeholders.
The biggest trap for English speakers: Chinese uses 万 (10,000) as a base unit, while English uses thousand. 一万 = 10,000, not 1,000.
Lesson Targets
Podcast
Podcast: Large Numbers: 千, 万, 亿 (千、万、亿)
Listen to Jason & Amy explain the 千、万、亿 pattern
New here?
Understanding 千、万、亿
In HSK 1, you learned to count up to hundreds. Now you unlock the full number system. Chinese uses a different grouping than English — while English groups by thousands (thousand, million, billion), Chinese groups by 万 (ten-thousand). This means "one million" is not a single word in Chinese — it is 一百万 (one hundred ten-thousands). This takes practice because your brain wants to translate directly. The key insight: 万 is the building block. Everything above it is multiples of 万. One million = 100万. Ten million = 1000万. And 亿 = 10,000万 = 100 million. Once you internalize 万 as your base unit, large numbers become easy. Also important: use 零 (líng) when there are zeros in the middle of a number, like 三千零五十 (3,050).
Key Points
- 千 (qiān) = 1,000. Example: 三千 = 3,000.
- 万 (wàn) = 10,000. Example: 五万 = 50,000.
- 亿 (yì) = 100,000,000 (one hundred million).
- Chinese groups by 万, not by thousand. 一万 = 10,000.
- 一百万 = 1,000,000 (one million = "one hundred ten-thousands").
- 一千万 = 10,000,000 (ten million).
- Use 零 for internal zeros: 一千零五 = 1,005; 三千零五十 = 3,050.
- Reading numbers: go left to right, state each unit: 两万一千四百六十五 = 21,465.
In China, large amounts of money are expressed in 万 — you will hear 两万块 (20,000 yuan) constantly when discussing rent, salaries, and prices. Chinese real estate prices are usually quoted per square meter in 万 units.
Key Vocabulary
Example Sentences
一千三百五十二
1,352
三千五百
3,500
百 can be omitted in casual speech
三千零五
3,005
零 fills the hundreds gap
两万一千四百六十五
21,465
五万六千
56,000
一万零六百
10,600
四亿五千万
450,000,000
四亿五千六百十二万
4,561,200,000
Common Mistakes
There is no "ten thousand" as 十千 in Chinese. 10,000 has its own word: 万.
When the hundreds place is zero, you must insert 零: 3,050 = 三千零五十.
Practice Exercises
Tips & Tricks
The key mental shift: think in 万 (ten-thousands), not thousands. Practice converting: 100,000 = 十万, 1,000,000 = 一百万.
When you see 零, it means there is a gap in the number. 一千零三 = 1,003.
For money: 两万块 is 20,000 yuan. This is the most common large number you will use in daily life.
Practice reading prices and phone numbers in Chinese — great real-world number practice.
Homework
Write out these numbers in Chinese: 2,500 / 10,800 / 45,000 / 100,000 / 3,005,000. Then write three sentences about prices or quantities using 千, 万, or 亿.
Ask Jason
Have a question about Large Numbers: 千, 万, 亿 (千、万、亿)?
Jason explains this pattern at your level, gives you more examples and checks your own sentences.
Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.
A sample week, replayed. Every page you study lands here in the order you did it — your own replay starts with a free account.
See the Learning Lab