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Chinese numerals are words and characters used to denote numbers in written Chinese. Today, speakers of Chinese languages use three written numeral systems: the system of Arabic numerals used worldwide, and two indigenous systems. The more familiar indigenous system is based on Chinese characters that correspond to numerals in the spoken language.
The number 4 can also symbolise luck, prosperity and happiness in Chinese culture. In the musical scale, 4 is pronounced Fa, which sounds like 发 (fortune) in Mandarin. In this case, some Chinese people regard 4 as the propitious and lucky number. There is also an old Chinese idiom 四季发财 (To be Wealthy All Year). [5] [6]
The numbers zero through five are simpler: Zero Northern China: The fist is closed. This may be interpreted as 10 depending on the situation, though some Chinese distinguish between zero and ten by having the thumb closed or open, respectively. Coastal southern China: The thumb and index finger make a circle, with the other three fingers closed.
The character 零 (pinyin: líng) means "zero" in Chinese, although 〇 is also common. Etymologically 零 is an onomatopoeic word for "light rain". The upper part of the character is 雨, meaning "rain", and the lower part is 令 (lìng), for the sound. [1] Czech: nula Dutch: nul /nyl/ English: zero: There are many other names: French: zéro ...
However, the written numbers are questionable. When you spell out "Three Thousands" in English or 三千 in Chinese, it is a number for sure, but is it a numeral? Kowloonese 02:14, 5 November 2005 (UTC) Yeah, this article is just about how to write out numbers in Chinese words, even including regional usages. If you think that this article ...
In the Han dynasty, numbers were developed into a place value decimal system and used on a counting board with a set of counting rods called rod calculus, consisting of only nine symbols with a blank space on the counting board representing zero. [3] Negative numbers and fractions were also incorporated into solutions of the great mathematical ...
Some dialects have initial /ŋ/ corresponding to the zero initial of the standard language. [96] This initial is the result of a merger of the Middle Chinese zero initial with /ŋ/ and /ʔ/. Many dialects of Northwestern and Central Plains Mandarin have /pf pfʰ f v/ where Beijing has /tʂw tʂʰw ʂw ɻw/. [96]
For example, Standard Chinese has four–five tones and the digits 1–5 or 0–4 are assigned to them; Cantonese has 6–9 tones, and the digits from 0 or 1 to 6 or 9 are assigned to them. In this case, Mandarin tone 4 has nothing to do with Cantonese tone 4, as can be seen by comparing the tone charts of Standard Chinese (Mandarin), Cantonese ...