二十
èrshí
Twenty
二十 (èrshí) is the number twenty in Mandarin Chinese. It is formed by combining 二 (èr, “two”) and 十 (shí, “ten”), literally meaning “two tens.”
What does 二十 (èrshí) mean?
二十 (èrshí) means “twenty” in English. Word for word, it breaks down as “two ten.”
When to use it
Neutral. Numbers in Chinese are generally straightforward and used in all contexts. For quantities, you often add a measure word, such as 二十个 (èrshí ge, “twenty of something”).
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “err-SHIR.” The first syllable is a falling tone, and the second is a rising tone.
Other ways to say it
- 二十个èrshí getwenty (of something)
- 二十多èrshí duoover twenty / twenty something
- 二十几èrshí jitwenty-odd / twenty something (less precise)
Examples
他今年二十岁。
tā jīnnián èrshí sui.
He is twenty years old this year.
这里有二十本书。
zhèli yǒu èrshí ben shū.
There are twenty books here.
请给我二十块钱。
qǐng gěi wǒ èrshí kuài qián.
Please give me twenty yuan.
Pro tip: Unlike some other numbers, 二十 is always pronounced with èr for “two,” not liǎng. For example, you say 二十个人 (èrshí ge rén), not 两十个人.
Related phrases
九 · Nine两 · Two (liǎng)一万 · Ten thousand
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