幺
yāo
1 in numbers
Phone numbers in Chinese
Phone, room and flight numbers are read one digit at a time. The digit 1 becomes 幺 (yāo), because 一 (yī) is easy to mishear as 七 (qī).
Reading a number
- Each digit is said on its own; zero is 零 (líng).
- One is 幺 (yāo). Plain 一 is understood too, but 幺 is clearer.
- Chinese mobile numbers have 11 digits, grouped three, four and four: 138 1234 5678.
幺三八
yāo sān bā
138 — the start of a number
电话号码
diànhuà hàomǎ
Phone number
你的电话号码是多少？
nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshao?
What is your phone number?
Emergency numbers in China
More about numbers
Frequently asked questions
Why is 1 read yāo in phone numbers?
一 (yī) and 七 (qī) are easy to confuse by ear, especially over the phone, so 1 is said as 幺 (yāo) in numbers.
How do you ask for a phone number in Chinese?
你的电话号码是多少？ (nǐ de diànhuà hàomǎ shì duōshao?) — "what is your phone number?".
What is the police number in China?
110, read 幺幺零 (yāo yāo líng). Fire is 119 and an ambulance is 120.
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