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).

Question 7

How do you say ten billion in Chinese?

Accepted Answer

Ten billion in Chinese is 百亿 (bǎi yì), literally "one hundred hundred-millions." Written out, 10,000,000,000 splits the Chinese way as 100,0000,0000, which reads as 一百亿 (yī bǎi yì).

Grammar Point	Pattern	Example
Big numbers in Chinese
Reduplication of verbs in Chinese	Subject + Verb + Verb	尝尝我做的菜！
How to use 比	Noun A + 比 + Noun B + Adjective	今天比昨天冷。
How to use 几	几 + Measure Word	她几岁？
How to use 就	…, 就 + Verb Phrase	看完电影我就睡觉了。
How to use 正在	Subject + 正在 + Verb + Object	老板正在开会。
How to use 更	更 + Adjective	我喜欢网购，因为更方便。
How to use 一边	Subj. + 一边 + Verb (，) + 一边 + Verb	我一边吃饭，一边写作业。
How to use 又	Subj.+ 又 + Adj. 1 + 又 + Adj. 2	他又高又壮
How to use 难	Subject + (很)难 + Verb	日语很难学。
How to use 才	Subject + Time + 才 + Verb	她今天才开始复习明早的考试。
How to use 半	半 + Measure word + Noun	半块蛋糕

Chinese Grammar Bank

HSK 2