how to use yao1 or yi1 in numbers

[piano0011]

According to one of the lessons I have learnt, when saying phone numbers, one can use yao1 instead of yi1 correct because yi1 sounds almostl ike qi1? 1 sounds almost like the number 7, can you always substitute yi1 with yao1 anytime? or just about phone numbers? how about... wo yao mai3 yao ge or yi ge?

[Zhonghua]

This substitution is most common when reciting phone numbers, serial numbers, or other sequences of numbers where clarity is important. 

However, outside of these specific contexts, "yī" remains the standard word for the number one. In general sentences and when counting, "yī" is typically used. You would not use yao for 我要买一个. 

 

For example, the convenience store chain 7/11 is typically called qi yao yao vs. qi yi yi or qi shi yi. 

[piano0011]

but isn't it common to say... wo yao mai yi ge = I want to buy 1.... wo yao mai yi ge pingguo = I want to buy an apple?

[Flickserve]

“Wo yao4”= I want 

 

“mai” = to buy

 

“yi1 ge pingguo” = one (an) apple. 
 

On 1/5/2024 at 2:18 PM, piano0011 said:

wo yao mai yi ge pingguo = I want to buy an apple?

the “yao” in this sentence is the verb “to want” , not the number one.

[piano0011]

yes.... that's right and i guess because I was using pinyin but thanks!

[Flickserve]

Yes. It gets a bit confusing if you stick with pinyin. Have you started on Chinese characters? You look ready for them. 

[Lu]

@Flickserve Typo in your post, 要 is yao4 not *yao3!

 

一 is read as yao1 in phone numbers and such, because it's hard to tell apart where one yi ends and the other begins if you have several after one another. 111 and 1111 both sound like eeeeee. Hence yao1. I've never heard the explanation that yi1 sounds too much like qi1, but that could also be a reason I guess.

You never use yao1 when counting things. 一本书 Yi ben shu, 一个苹果 yi ge pingguo etc, never *yao ben shu for 一本书.

 

This is only in China. In Taiwan, people don't use this yao1 and always say yi1.

[piano0011]

cheers!

[Flickserve]

On 1/5/2024 at 10:05 PM, Lu said:

Typo in your post, 要 is yao4 not *yao3!

Thanks. Correction made

[piano0011]

thanks guys!