Chinese Numbers: How to Write 1-10 in Chinese Characters
August 2026
Learn to write the numbers 1-10 in Chinese: 一二三四五六七八九十. Simple stroke-by-stroke guide with the pattern for numbers above 10 and free practice sheets.
Numbers are usually the first thing people learn in any language — and in Chinese they are also some of the easiest characters to write. Most of 1-10 are only a few strokes, and once you know them, every other number is just a combination.
The numbers 1-10
一二三 are literally one, two and three horizontal strokes. 十 is a cross: horizontal first, then vertical.
Numbers above 10: the pattern
Chinese numbers above ten are built logically, with no irregular words to memorize:
- 11 = 十一 (shí yī) — literally "ten-one"
- 20 = 二十 (èr shí) — "two-ten"
- 25 = 二十五 (èr shí wǔ) — "two-ten-five"
- 99 = 九十九 (jiǔ shí jiǔ) — "nine-ten-nine"
Big numbers: 百, 千, 万
Once you pass a hundred, three new characters appear: 百 (bǎi, hundred), 千 (qiān, thousand) and 万 (wàn, ten thousand). Note that Chinese groups large numbers by ten thousands, not thousands — so 10,000 is 一万, not "ten thousand".
10,000 = 一万 (yī wàn). Prices and populations use 万 constantly.
Open 万 character page →Practice writing them
Numbers are perfect first characters to trace — few strokes, clear structure, and you will use them every day. Write them in a tianzige grid to get the proportions right.
Generate a practice sheet with 一二三四五六七八九十 and trace all ten numbers.
Generate a worksheet