Q: What is the main difference between the commas in English and in Chinese?

So first, in English, we place the comma at every 3 digits . But in Chinese, it is a bit different, because we place the comma at every 4 digits.

Q: What are the four steps you need to remember for writing big numbers in Chinese?

STEP 1 | Write down the number and place commas at every four digits. In this case, “305,6200” STEP 2 | The first three numbers are “305”, which you normally say “ 三百零五 .” And it is under the “万 (wàn)” unit. So we combine them as “ 三百零五万 ” STEP 3 | The last four numbers are “6200”, which you will say “ 六千二百 ” STEP 4 | Combine steps 2 & 3. This is how you say this number： 三百零五万六千二百 Of course, if you do not want to learn this step, there is also another method: shortcut. The simple way to write out large numbers is to pick one or two frequently used numbers and just memorise them. For example: “ 一百万 (yībǎi wàn) ,” is a recommended number to memorise. If you can remember it, then going to 一千万 (yīqiān wàn) is way easier and faster since you don’t have to count all those zeroes one by one. Another example: 34,054, in Chinese we will write it like this: 3,4354. In Chinese characters: 三万四千三百五十四 (sān wàn sì qiān sān bǎi wǔ shí sì)

Question 1

What is the main difference between the commas in English and in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

So first, in English, we place the comma at every 3 digits.

But in Chinese, it is a bit different, because we place the comma at every 4 digits.

Question 2

How to say ten billion in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

In Chinese, ten billion is: 百亿 (bǎi yì).

Question 3

What is the Chinese split for 1,200,080,000?

Accepted Answer

The Chinese split for 1,200,080,000 is: 12, 0008,0000, and we say it:十二亿零八万 (shí èr yì líng bā wàn).

Question 4

What are the four steps you need to remember for writing big numbers in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

STEP 1 | Write down the number and place commas at every four digits. In this case, “305,6200”

STEP 2 | The first three numbers are “305”, which you normally say “三百零五.” And it is under the “万 (wàn)” unit. So we combine them as “三百零五万”

STEP 3 | The last four numbers are “6200”, which you will say “六千二百”

STEP 4 | Combine steps 2 & 3. This is how you say this number：三百零五万六千二百

Of course, if you do not want to learn this step, there is also another method: shortcut.

The simple way to write out large numbers is to pick one or two frequently used numbers and just memorise them.

For example: “一百万 (yībǎi wàn),” is a recommended number to memorise.

If you can remember it, then going to 一千万 (yīqiān wàn) is way easier and faster since you don’t have to count all those zeroes one by one.

Another example:

34,054, in Chinese we will write it like this: 3,4354.

In Chinese characters: 三万四千三百五十四 (sān wàn sì qiān sān bǎi wǔ shí sì)

Question 5

How to say thousand in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

In Chinese, thousand is: 千 (qiān).

Question 6

What is the Chinese split for 40,000, and how to say it?

Accepted Answer

The Chinese split for 40,000 is: 4,0000, and we say it: 四万 (sì wàn).

Chinese Grammar Bank

HSK 2