Chinese to Indonesian Number Converter

Chinese to Indonesian Number Conversion Guide

Numbers play a fundamental role in our daily lives, be it for trading, measuring, or counting. When it comes to language conversion, Chinese and Indonesian have their unique number systems. Chinese numbers are based on a combination of characters that represent numeric values, while Indonesian uses a more phonetic approach. Understanding the conversion between these two languages can benefit learners, travelers, and business professionals alike.

In Chinese, numbers 1 through 10 are represented by unique characters:

• 一 (yī) – 1
• 二 (èr) – 2
• 三 (sān) – 3
• 四 (sì) – 4
• 五 (wǔ) – 5
• 六 (liù) – 6
• 七 (qī) – 7
• 八 (bā) – 8
• 九 (jiǔ) – 9
• 十 (shí) – 10

In Indonesian, the corresponding numbers are:

• Satu – 1
• Dua – 2
• Tiga – 3
• Empat – 4
• Lima – 5
• Enam – 6
• Tujuh – 7
• Delapan – 8
• Sembilan – 9
• Sepuluh – 10

Tens, Hundreds, and Beyond

When dealing with numbers beyond ten, both languages have distinct ways of constructing larger numbers. In Chinese, numbers 11 through 19 are built using "十" (shí, ten) plus the singular digits:

• 十一 (shí yī) – 11 (sebelas)
• 十二 (shí èr) – 12 (dua belas)
• 十三 (shí sān) – 13 (tiga belas)
• 到 十九 (shí jiǔ) – 19 (sembilan belas)

From 20 onwards in Chinese, the structure changes somewhat. For example:

• 二十 (èr shí) – 20 (dua puluh)
• 二十一 (èr shí yī) – 21 (dua puluh satu)

Indonesian follows a straightforward principle as well:

• Dua puluh – 20
• Dua puluh satu – 21

For numbers in the hundreds, Chinese combines the character for "hundred" with the numbers:

• 一百 (yī bǎi) – 100 (seratus)
• 二百 (èr bǎi) – 200 (dua ratus)

For example, one might say:

• 四百 (sì bǎi) – 400 (empat ratus)
• 六百五十 (liù bǎi wǔ shí) – 650 (enam ratus lima puluh)

Indonesian similarly signifies hundreds as:

• Seratus – 100
• Dua ratus – 200
• Tiga ratus – 300

Larger Numbers

Transitioning to the thousands is where things get interesting. In Chinese, the word for thousand "千" (qiān) is combined with the hundreds:

• 一千 (yī qiān) – 1000 (seribu)
• 一千二百 (yī qiān èr bǎi) – 1200 (seribu dua ratus)

Indonesian uses:

• Seribu – 1000
• Dua ribu – 2000

When you reach larger orders of magnitude, like ten thousand, Chinese employs a different grouping system:

• 一万 (yī wàn) – 10,000 (sepuluh ribu)

In Indonesian, the numeral remains simple:

• Sepuluh ribu – 10,000

FAQs

Conversion Notes

1. Tonal Language Considerations: Chinese is a tonal language while Indonesian is not. Make sure to get the intonation right for accurate pronunciation in Chinese.

2. Character Knowledge: Familiarize yourself with basic Chinese characters for numbers to enhance your understanding and facilitate easy conversions.

3. Use of "Lima": In Indonesian, pay attention when pronouncing “lima” (5), as it may often be misheard as “lima” (5) in some regions.

4. Zero in Between: In Chinese, the use of zero "零" (líng) is common in larger numbers, while in Indonesian, zero often is omitted in verbal counting, depending on the context.

5. Practice with Context: Practice numbers in proper context, such as prices, dates, or phone numbers, to become adept at transitioning between the two languages.