Learning about numbers is an extremely important step when beginning to interact with a new language, and Vietnamese numbers are no exception. Please save the Jellyfish article below to help you learn Vietnamese numbers more easily!
1. Vietnamese numbers from 0 to 10
When learning Vietnamese numbers, the numbers from 0 to 10 are particularly necessary. It is equivalent to the alphabet, serving as the foundation for the larger numbers that follow. In the table below, Jellyfish shows how to read the numbers 0 to 10 in Vietnamese:
| Numbers | Vietnamese | English | Example |
| 0 | không | zero | |
| 1 | một | one | một quả táo (one apple) |
| 2 | hai | two | hai chiếc hộp (two boxes) |
| 3 | ba | three | ba chiếc ô (three umbrellas) |
| 4 | bốn | four | bốn cái túi (four bags) |
| 5 | năm | five | năm thỏi son (five lipsticks) |
| 6 | sáu | six | sáu con lợn (six pigs) |
| 7 | bảy | seven | bảy cái bát (seven bowls) |
| 8 | tám | eight | tám cái bút (eight pens) |
| 9 | chín | nine | chín quả cam (nine oranges) |
| 10 | mười | ten | mười ngón tay (ten fingers) |
See more: How to use Vietnamese vowels and Vietnamese consonants
2. Vietnamese numbers from 10 to 100
Numbers from 0 to 10 are insufficient for better understanding with native speakers. Let’s practice reading numbers from 10 to 100 with Jellyfish to expand your vocabulary!
2.1. Vietnamese Numbers 11 – 19
With 2-digit numbers beginning with the number 1, the reading will be simple. You should use the following structure:
Mười + number of units (refer to the table above)
Example:
- 11 = Mười + một = mười một
- 12 = Mười + hai = mười hai
Note: For only number 5, you will not apply the above formula. When standing in the unit row:
- “năm” will be understood as “year” in English
- In Vietnamese: number 5 = “lăm”
2.2. Numbers in Vietnamese from 20 to 99
Despite being the same 2-digit number, the numbers 20 – 99 will read differently than the numbers 11 – 19. As follows:
Number of tens + “mươi” + number of units (if any)
Example:
- 22 = Hai + mươi + hai = Hai mươi hai
- 45 = Bốn + mươi + lăm = Bốn mươi lăm
- 39 = Ba + mươi + chín = Ba mươi chín
- 60 = Sáu + mươi = Sáu mươi
Note: When standing in units of a 2-digit number, number 1 and number 4 have the following readings:
- 1 = mốt (21 = Hai mươi mốt)
- 4 = bốn/ tư (24 = Hai mươi bốn/ Hai mươi tư)
See more: 20+ Fun Vietnamese Slang Words
3. Vietnamese numbers from 100 to 1000
Can the readings of Vietnamese numbers from 100 to 1000 be the same as the readings from 10 to 100? Let’s find out in the following section!
3.1. Numbers that end with “00”
Numbers ending with “00”, also known as even numbers, have a really simple and easy reading formula:
Number of hundreds + “trăm”
For example:
- 100 = Một + trăm = Một trăm
- 400 = Bốn + trăm = Bốn trăm
- 500 = Năm + trăm = Năm trăm
- 600 = Sáu + trăm = Sáu trăm
3.2. Numbers with number of tens are “0”
As it consists of many components, these are the numbers with the most complex reading of the 3-digit numbers:
Number of hundreds + “trăm” + “linh” + number of units
Example:
- 102 = Một + trăm + linh + hai = Một trăm linh hai
- 207 = Hai + trăm + linh + bảy = Hai trăm linh bảy
- 308 = Ba + trăm + linh + tám = Ba trăm linh tám
3.3. Normal numbers – Vietnamese numbers
For 3-digit numbers that do not belong to the above rule, you can apply this formula:
Number of hundreds + “trăm” + 2 digit-number readings
Example:
- 230 = Hai + trăm + ba mươi = Hai trăm ba mươi
- 216 = Hai + trăm + mười sáu = Hai trăm mười sáu
- 429 = Bốn + trăm + hai mươi chín/ hai chín = Bốn trăm hai mươi chín / Bốn trăm hai mươi chín
- 990 = Chín trăm chín mươi
- 999 = Chín trăm chín mươi chín/Chín trăm chín chín
So, How to say “1000” in Vietnamese?
1000 = Một + “Nghìn” = Một nghìn
Similar:
- 2000: Hai nghìn
- 3000: Ba nghìn
- 4000: Bốn nghìn
- 5000: Năm Nghìn
The numbers from 1 to 1000 in Vietnamese are shown above. Of course, there are many larger numbers, such as 10.000, 100.000, 1.000.000, etc. However, the numbers 1 – 1000 are the most fundamental and must be mastered before learning more about counting.
4. How to count numbers in Vietnamese
Counting numbers in Vietnamese will become much easier once you understand the rules for reading Vietnamese numbers. Just use the following formula:
Vietnamese numbers readings + the name of the thing/ event
Example:
- Mẹ tôi mua 5 quả táo vào hôm qua (My mother bought 5 apples yesterday)
- Tôi tặng em tôi 3 quyển sách nhân dịp năm học mới (I gave my brother 3 books for new school year occasion)
Learning Vietnamese is always a challenge for many foreigners. Of course, numbers in Vietnamese are the same because they have complicated reading, writing and cannot be applied to all Vietnamese numbers. Don’t be worried, Jellyfish will always be a reputable companion to help you conquer Vietnamese!
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5. Common Uses of Vietnamese Numbers
1. Shopping and Bargaining
Understanding numbers is crucial when shopping in Vietnam, especially in markets where prices are often negotiable. For example:
- “How much is this?” – Cái này bao nhiêu tiền?
- “It costs 50,000 đồng.” – Năm mươi ngàn đồng.
2. Telling Time and Dates
Vietnamese numbers are also essential for time and dates:
- “What time is it?” – Mấy giờ rồi?
- “It’s 3 o’clock.” – Ba giờ.
3. Phone Numbers
Phone numbers in Vietnam are read digit by digit. For example, the number 0987654321 is read as: Không, chín, tám, bảy, sáu, năm, bốn, ba, hai, một.
6. Sign up for Vietnamese course consultation
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