Learn Chinese wisdom through Haizi: Episode 1: Numbers 一二三

Chinese numbers:

: 1

èr: 2

sān: 3

: 4

: 5

liù: 6

: 7

: 8

jiǔ: 9

shí: 10

bǎi: 100

qiān: 1,000

wàn: 10,000

亿 : 100,000,000

 

Before we start, let’s imagine in the very, very early days, people didn’t write a certain language. They only spoke. At first, they only created a way to say the number one: . They probably thought as long as they knew how to say the number one, they could count all the countable things. Just like the binary computer language, which only has zero and one and can calculate everything just with those two numbers.

 

So for a time, one was the largest number in Chinese. It was an infinite number. However, people began to realize that they needed a number bigger than one to make things easier for themselves. So they created a way to say the number two: èr. They were satisfied for a while until it was also not enough. It was the same story for the invention of the numbers three, four, and all the way to nine, as people found the previous biggest number could not satisfy their needs.

 

As you have seen from the story above, the Chinese numbers were invented one by one, and not all at once. So it makes sense that the number one, which existed first, would affect how the number two looks. The same goes for the other numbers.

 

Now let’s really start looking into the stories about written numbers in Chinese.

 

: 1, one

 

The character evolved from Oracle bone script (considered to be the earliest form of recognizable written Chinese) to the standard Song typeface. It has always remained as the horizontal stroke.

 

is a special indicative character. The abstract symbol not only signifies the simplest origin, but also the most abundant and chaotic universe in its original form.

 

The original meaning of when it was created was the smallest original unit, or the smallest positive integer.

 

As the ancient Chinese said, 道立于一,一生二,二生三,三生万物 dào lì yú yī, yī shēng èr, èr shēng sān, sān shēng wàn wù, meaning that the entire chaotic universe in its original form was called . Then the entire chaotic universe in its original form divided into /two parts: tiān (heaven) and (earth). Between and , then came rén (person) as the 第三部分 dì sān bù fen (third part). Then 天地人 split into all the other things in the universe.

 

Here is the more detailed meaning of this saying:

 

The universe in its original form cannot be described with words. It is not made of gas, solids, or anything else. It is indescribable. All you know is that it is a chaotic entity. It is the beginning of everything, the start of existence. No time and no space can be used because there is absolutely nothing. Ancient Chinese called it 太初 tài chū, literally meaning “ultimate beginning.” 太初 is. With , heaven and earth, they are two opposite sides. is the yáng, or positive side; is the yīn, or negative side. Two absolute opposite gases formed and from . The universe is not chaotic anymore. In the harmonious state, 天地人 created all the other things.

 

  • , the entire chaotic universe in its original form
  • , the stroke above stands for , the lower stroke stands for
  • , the top and bottom strokes stand for 天地, the middle stoke stands for ; is the most honorable creature in the whole universe

 

Let’s see how the meaning of extended.

 

Original meaning: number one, the smallest original unit, the smallest positive integer.

 

一分为二 yī fēn wéi èr: one divides into two

 

 

  • 爸爸妈妈离婚了,我们家也就一分为二了。bàba māma líhūn le, zhègè jiā yě jiù yī fēn wéi èr le. Since dad and mom divorced, our one family divided into two families.
  • Extended meaning: adj. same, not two looks/conditions.

 

 

 

一模一样 yì mú yí yàng: exactly the same (both and mean look/appearance).

 

  • 这对双胞胎姐妹长得一模一样!zhè duì shuāng bāo tāi jiěmèi zhángde yì mú yí yàng! These twin sisters look exactly the same!
    • Extended meaning: adv. absolutely, totally, definitely, completely.

 

一定 yídìng

 

  • 我一定会参加你的婚礼。wǒ yídìng huì cānjiā nǐ de hūnlǐ. I will definitely attend your wedding.
    • Extended meaning: adj. entire, total, whole.

 

一心一意 yì xīn yí yì

 

  • 我一心一意地爱着我的男朋友。wǒ yì xīn yí yì de àizhe wǒde nánpéngyǒu. I love my boyfriend with all my heart.
    • Extended meaning: adv. how, truly.

 

èr: 2, two

 

The character evolved from Oracle bone script to the standard Song typeface.

 

Let’s see how the meaning of 二 extended.

 

Original meaning: n. heaven and earth derived from the entire chaotic universe at its original status

Extended meaning: the number two; the sum of one plus one

 

二哥 èr gē: second oldest brother

 

  • 我二哥还是大学生。wǒ èr gē hái shì dà xué shēng. My second oldest brother is still a college student.
    • Extended meaning: adj. second-rate; inferior; unreasonable in thinking.

 

二货 èr huò: dummy, silly (it is not an insult, more like making a joke)

 

  • 他是一个二货,总是干蠢事。tā shì yī gè èr huò, zǒng shì gàn chǔn shì. He is a dummy, always does stupid things.

 

sān: 3, three

 

The character evolved from Oracle bone script to the standard Song typeface.

 

Let’s see how the meaning of extended.

 

Original meaning: n. heaven, earth and person which derived into all the other things in the universe.

Extended meaning: number three; the sum of one plus two.

 

一日三餐 yī rì sān cān: three meals per day.

 

  • 一日三餐要按时吃,对身体好。yī rì sān cān yào àn shí chī, duì shēn tǐ hǎo. Eat three meals per day on time; it is good for your body.
    • Extended meaning: adj. multiple, many.

 

三心二意 sān xīn èr yì: half-minded; be of two minds

 

  • 开车时三心二意很危险。kāi chē shí sān xīn èr yì hěn wēi xiǎn. It is dangerous to be with two minds when driving.
    • Extended meaning: adv. agian and again; over and over; repeatedly.

 

三思而后行 sān sī ér hòu xíng: don’t do anything until you have thought about it carefully again and again.

 

  • 买房是一个大开支,你要三思而后行。mǎi fáng shì yí gè dà kāi zhī, nǐ yào sān sī ér hòu xíng. Buying an apartment is a big expense. You should think about it carefully again and again before you do it.

 

As you can see from the invention of 一二三, Chinese ancestors respect heaven, (where most Chinese Gods and mysterious powers live and control everything on the earth), earth (which gives human beings a place to live and grow food to survive), and people (the most intelligent, honorable creature in the whole universe, who are the third most honorable thing in the universe besides heaven and earth).

 

There are some similarities between ancient western wisdom and Chinese wisdom. A quick example is when English speakers (who honor God) would say, “Oh, my God!” in their daily life. Chinese would likewise say, 啊,天啊!a, tiān a, or 老天啊 / 苍天啊 / 老天爷啊!啊,我的天啊!lǎo tiān a / cāng tiān a / lǎo tiān yé a! a, wǒ de tiān a! to express the same meaning. In another example, the Holy Bible says the heaven and earth were separated by light when God said, “Let there be light.” It is similar to the Chinese ancestors’ idea that the universe is divided into the two parts of and .

 

You are welcome to comment below and let me know what you think of the invention of Chinese numbers. I would like to hear your opinions related to this article.

 

Note: The origins of the characters may not be 100% true or explained accurately with my English ability and Chinese understanding of the ancient Chinese philosophers’ great work. Please just take my article for reference.

 

Image Sources

 

Hero Image by Nic McPhee (CC BY-SA 2.0)