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十

十 (shí) Chinese Character: ten

2 strokes · HSK 1 · Radical 十

One vertical line crosses one horizontal line.

Practice 十 in the interactive lesson

Chinese character story: The Number Ten

十 (shí) means “ten.” The balanced cross is the final basic number form. Combine it with other numbers: 十一 is eleven and 二十 is twenty.

🧩 Word buildingSee what every part contributes

Chinese words often combine short meaning clues. Fixed expressions are clearly marked so you do not translate them too literally.

十一
十ten一one=eleven
二十
二two十tens=twenty

Chinese character origin and etymology

十 (shí) means “ten.” The balanced cross is the final basic number form. Combine it with other numbers: 十一 is eleven and 二十 is twenty.

In modern simplified Chinese, 十 is written with 2 strokes. This lesson separates documented shape history from the memory story so learners do not mistake a mnemonic for a historical claim. 十 works as one complete form rather than a puzzle made from smaller modern components. Learning its overall silhouette is useful because the same shape may later appear inside more complex characters.

Chinese character stroke order and structure

十 is written with 2 strokes. Learn the complete stroke sequence in the interactive lesson, then write the character from memory before checking your answer.

  • 十 — ten — a basic form used as one complete character

Common usage and sentence patterns

The examples below show 十 in complete beginner-friendly sentences. Read each sentence aloud, notice where the character appears, and then replace one noun or number to create a new sentence of your own.

班里有十个人。 Bān lǐ yǒu shí ge rén. There are ten people in the class.
现在十点。 Xiànzài shí diǎn. It is ten o’clock now.
这本书十元。 Zhè běn shū shí yuán. This book costs ten yuan.

Learning tips for 十

Learn the reading as one unit: shí, with the second tone: rising. Avoid memorizing the letters without the tone mark. Say the syllable, recall the English meaning “ten,” and write the 2 strokes from memory.

Because 十 is a basic form, focus on its proportions and stroke direction. Compare it with 一 (yī, one; 十一 is eleven); 二 (èr, two; 二十 is twenty). Similar characters are easier to remember when their different parts and meanings are studied side by side.

Quick review checklist

  • Can you recognize 十 without pinyin?
  • Can you say shí with the correct tone and explain “ten”?
  • Can you write all 2 strokes in order?
  • Can you use 十 in one short sentence?

Related characters

Learn 十 in a themed collection

Compare this character with related beginner words. A themed path helps you notice useful pairs, word-building patterns, and everyday contexts.

🔢 Chinese Numbers 1–10

Continue learning Chinese characters

Use the Chinese radicals and components guide to understand reusable parts, the stroke order guide to improve handwriting, and the HSK 1 character overview to choose your next beginner lesson.

Sources and editorial note

HanziStory separates documented character history from modern memory stories. Historical-form images are shown only when a matching source file is available; missing stages are skipped rather than invented. Stroke practice uses HanziWriter data.

Last updated: August 12, 2026. Read our sources, editorial method, and correction policy.