六
liù
Six
六 (liù) is the cardinal number six in Mandarin Chinese. It is used for counting, indicating quantity, and in dates or times.
What does 六 (liù) mean?
六 (liù) means “six” in English.
When to use it
Neutral and universally applicable. When counting items, you often add a measure word, like 六个苹果 (liù ge píngguǒ, "six apples"). For ordinal numbers, add 第 (dì), as in 第六 (dì liù, "the sixth").
How to pronounce it
Sounds like “lee-OH.” The "l" is soft, and the "iu" is like "io" in "folio" but with a falling tone.
Other ways to say it
- 第六dì liùthe sixth
- 六个liù gesix (of something)
- 六月liù yuèJune
Examples
我有六本书。
wǒ yǒu liù běn shū.
I have six books.
今天是六月六日。
jīntiān shì liù yuè liù rì.
Today is June 6th.
请给我六个苹果。
qǐng gěi wǒ liù ge píngguǒ.
Please give me six apples.
Pro tip: In Chinese culture, 六 (liù) is often considered a lucky number, especially in business, because it sounds similar to 流 (liú), meaning "smooth" or "flow."
Related phrases
零 · Zero三 · Three七 · Seven
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