Studyfin
✨ Sign up free
Hi there! I am Studyfin, your friendly tutor. Today, we will learn how to count to three in Mandarin Chinese!
In Chinese, we use special symbols called characters to write numbers. The character for the number one is just a single flat line! It is pronounced 'yī'.
The character for the number two is written with two flat lines. The top line is a bit shorter than the bottom line! We say this as 'èr'.
The character for the number three has three flat lines. The middle line is the shortest, and the bottom line is the longest! We pronounce it 'sān'.
✏️ Worked example
Let us practice using our new Chinese numbers! Imagine you see three cute pandas sitting in a row. How would you write the number of pandas using a Chinese character?
- First, count the pandas one by one. There are three pandas in total.
- Next, remember which Chinese character stands for the number three.
- Think about the lines. The character for three has three flat lines stacked on top of each other.
- Draw the lines! Make the top line medium, the middle line short, and the bottom line long.
- Now you can say it out loud: 'sān' means three!
Want the full interactive lesson — quiz, animations, and Finn cheering them on?