Numbers

Below is a table of numbers in Regular Script (kǎi shū) from Zero (líng) through to Ten (shí) followed by a Thousand (qiān) for you to practice.

Top Row l-r: Zero (líng), One (yī), Two (èr), Three (sān)

Middle Row l-r: Four (sì), Five (wǔ), Six (liù), Seven (qī)

Bottom Row l-r: Eight (bā), Nine (jiǔ), Ten (shí), Thousand (qiān)

Note that zero (líng) is very often represented as a large O especially on contemporary paintings and/or those intended for the Western market. A single stroke O is more Japanese whereas a more Chinese version would be written in two strokes more like this: ()

Below is a table of numbers in Regular Script (kǎi shū) from Eleven (shí yī) through to Twenty (èr shí)

1. Eleven (shí yī) 6. Sixteen (shí liù)
2. Twelve (shí èr) 7. Seventeen (shí qī)
3. Thirteen (shí sān) 8. Eighteen (shí bā)
4. Fourteen (shí sì) 9. Nineteen (shí jiǔ)
5. Fifteen (shí wǔ) 10. Twenty (èr shí)

Below is a table of numbers in Regular Script (kǎi shū) from Twenty one (èr shí yī) through to Thirty one (sān shí yī)

1. Twenty one (èr shí yī)
2. Twenty two (èr shí èr)
3. Twenty three (èr shí sān)
4. Twenty four (èr shí sì)
5. Twenty five (èr shí wǔ)
6. Twenty six (èr shí liù)
7. Twenty seven (èr shí qī)
8. Twenty eight (èr shí bā)
9. Twenty nine (èr shí jiǔ)
10. Thirty (sān shí)
11. Thirty one (sān shí yī)

Cantonese: Two thousand twenty

Mandarin: Two thousand twenty (liǎng qiān èr shí)

For a comprehensive explanation of how the above numbers should appear when putting the date on your painting please see our Dating paintings page.

There are always questions with regard to Chinese Calligraphy so please get in touch if there is something I’ve not covered or not explained well. Please email: pmcbp1@gmail.com

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