31 in Chinese
Nearby Chinese Numbers
31 in Other Languages
About 31 in Chinese
The Chinese word for 31 is 三十一. It is pronounced sānshíyī in Chinese. The simplified written form is 三十一.
The number 31 is odd — and also prime, meaning it has exactly two factors. 31 is a number worth knowing in Chinese — it appears in real-world contexts like ages, distances, prices, and time expressions.
Learning 31 in Chinese is a step toward real communicative confidence. Numbers are unavoidable — they appear in every aspect of daily life, from prices and timetables to addresses and phone calls.
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.