十

• Pinyin: shí
• Hanzi breakdown: 十 = simple character representing the number ten, originally a cross shape symbolising completeness

Meaning

Ten. The number ten, a fundamental numeral in Chinese.

One of the basic numerals used constantly in counting, telling time, giving prices, and stating quantities. Also appears in many compound numbers like 十一 (eleven), 二十 (twenty), and 十月 (October).

Examples

1. 我有十本书。 I have ten books.
2. 现在是十点。 It is ten o'clock now.
3. 她今年十岁了。 She is ten years old this year.

Usage Guide

Context: counting, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我买了十个苹果。(I bought ten apples.)
• 他等了十分钟。(He waited for ten minutes.)

Don't Say

• 十块钱一个。(Not wrong, but be aware of tone sandhi: 十 changes to second tone before a fourth-tone word in natural speech)

Origin & History

Ancient pictograph representing a vertical line with a horizontal stroke, symbolising completeness in the base-ten counting system.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal