1,000 in Chinese
1,000 in Other Languages
About 1,000 in Chinese
When speaking Chinese, 1,000 is expressed as 一千. It is pronounced yīqiān in Chinese. The simplified written form is 一千.
The number 1,000 is even. 1,000 is a number worth knowing in Chinese — it appears in real-world contexts like ages, distances, prices, and time expressions.
For anyone learning Chinese, numbers like 1,000 are essential early targets. They appear in tasks as common as buying a coffee, reading a menu, catching a bus, or asking someone their age.
Learning Numbers in Chinese
What makes Chinese numbers challenging
Chinese numbers are logically structured but tonal — each digit must be said with the correct tone or it becomes a different word entirely. The digit 1 (yī, first tone) is replaced by "yāo" in phone numbers and certain contexts. Larger numbers use a different grouping system: Chinese counts in units of 10,000 (万/wàn) rather than 1,000, so one million is "one hundred ten-thousands" (一百万). Measure words (classifiers) are required when counting objects, and different objects need different classifiers.
Tips for learning Chinese numbers
Master the four tones first — they are the foundation of all Chinese number comprehension. Learn 万 (wàn, ten thousand) early, as it is the key to understanding large numbers. Practice with prices and addresses since these are the most common real-world number encounters. Remember that "yāo" replaces "yī" for the digit 1 in phone numbers, room numbers, and other sequences — this is one of the first things textbooks miss.