numbers that are used as words
6.10
7’s and 8’s
乱七八糟
亂七八糟
luàn qī bā zāo
a mess/disorganized
七上八下
qī shàng bā xià
be in an unsettled state of mind
6.9 一 yC as a marker of sequence
In addition to functioning as a number, the word 一 yī is also used to indicate sequence in the
following structure:
一 yī + verb
as soon as verb occurs...
他一看见他孩子就很高兴。
他一看見他孩子就很高興。
Tā yī kànjian tā háizi jiù hěn gāoxìng.
As soon as he sees (his) children he is happy.
C42.3.3
6.10 Numbers that are used as words
Numbers that are homophonous or near homophones with words may be used as abbreviations
for words. This kind of substitution is particularly common on the internet and in written
advertisements and signs. Examples include:
5 3 0 五三零
wǔ sān líng
(我想你)
(wǒ xiǎng nǐ)
I’m thinking of you – I miss you.
5 2 0 五二○
wǔ èr líng
(我爱你)
(wǒ ài nǐ)
I love you
8 8 八八
bā bā
(拜拜)
(bàibài)
bye bye
