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How do you say fractions like 'half' or 'quarters' in Chinese?



Yesterday, we learn how to go beyond the survival basics. One Twitter follower on NihaoHello was asking how to ask 'how much does it cost?'

So I decided to share a little more into fractions, decimals, percentages. Hence, it is now a little more on lower intermediate level of speaking. This shall also help you to do some basic grocery shopping while making a short trip to some Mandarin speaking parts of world.


Mandarin fractions can be expressed either as divisions of a whole (half, quarter, etc.) or as decimal fractions.

If you would like to express ‘fractions’ in mandarin, you can say:
Half



Half or one-half
yī bàn (一半)
èr fēn zhī yī – one part of two


2/3
(two thirds)
two parts of three

sān fēn zhī èr - two parts of three

Quarter
3/4
three-quarters
sì fēn zhī sān
四分之三

14/16
fourteen-sixteenths
shí liù fēn zhī shí sì
十六分之十


Decimal fractions
The decimal point in Mandarin decimal fractions is stated as diǎn 点

Zero (0)
If the number begins with the decimal point, it can optionally be prefaced with líng (zero) 零

0.1
líng diǎn yi

0.2
líng diǎn er

1.6
yī diǎn liù
一点六

0.5674
ling diǎn wǔ liù qī sì
零点五六七四


Percentages
30%
bǎi fēn zhī sān shí
百分之

2%
bǎi fēn zhī èr
百分之二





Zannnie

NihaoHello is designed to meet the increasing demand for Mandarin Chinese language learning among the younger generation. We specialize in providing homeschooling and tutoring services specifically for English speakers, focusing on teaching essential yet practical Mandarin Chinese skills. Our program is geared towards beginner learners and is designed to provide immediate practical usage as soon as the global economy improves.