亿
yì
100 million (yì) · trad. 億
亿 (yì) is the Chinese character and unit for one hundred million. It is a fundamental unit for expressing very large numbers, often seen in contexts like population, economy, or astronomical figures.
What does 亿 (yì) mean?
亿 (yì) means “100 million (yì)” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “hundred million.”
When to use it
Neutral and standard. 亿 is the fixed unit for 100 million in all contexts, from casual conversation to formal reports. There isn't a more or less formal alternative for the unit itself.
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “ee” with a falling tone, similar to the “y” in “yes” followed by the “ee” in “see.”
Other ways to say it
- 几亿jǐ yìseveral hundred million
- 十亿shí yìone billion (ten hundred million)
- 万亿wàn yìone trillion (ten thousand hundred million)
Examples
中国有十几亿人口。
Zhōngguó yǒu shíjí yì rénkǒu.
China has over one billion people.
这个项目投资了上亿资金。
zhège xiàngmù tóuzī le shàngyì zījīn.
This project invested over a hundred million in funds.
地球的年龄是几十亿年。
dìqiú de niánlíng shì jǐshí yì nián.
The Earth's age is several billion years.
Pro tip: In Chinese, large numbers are grouped by ten thousands (万 wàn), not thousands. So, 100 million is one 亿 (yì), not 'one hundred thousand thousand'.
Related phrases
去年 · Last year三十 · Thirty百分之十 · 10 percent
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