The concept of Chinese numbers is simplified into an easily digestible system: Numbers 1 through 10 all have one character. Numbers 11 through 19 all have the word for 10 (十, shí) added before the second digit. For example, 17 is written as 十七 (shí qī). Numbers 20 through 90 are all expressed as a multiple of 10.

To say any Chinese numbers above twenty, you must multiply numbers 2–9 by ten. Here is a visual representation: 20 = 二 times 十 = 二十 Then you will then need to add the units to the right, for example: 25 = 2 times 10 + 5 = 二十五 57 = 5 times 10 + 7 = 五十七 And so on for all other numbers up to 99.