Chinese word

百

Pronunciation

Pinyinbǎi

Meaning

  • numberhundred

Example

这座桥已有百年历史。zhè zuò qiáo yí yǒu bǎi nián lì shǐ

This bridge is a hundred years old.

Illustration for 百 (hundred)

More examples

我买了一个玩具，花了一百元。wǒ mǎi le yí gè wán jù huā le yì bǎi yuán

I bought a toy and spent a hundred yuan.

Core concept

One hundred as a rounded landmark: a finished count that can suggest abundance or total coverage.

Common phrases

  • 一百元yì bǎi yuán

    a hundred yuan

  • 几百元jí bǎi yuán

    several hundred yuan

Similar words

一yī: A numeral meaning one.
十shí: A numeral meaning ten.
千qiān: A numeral meaning one thousand.
万wàn: A numeral meaning ten thousand.

Definition in Chinese

表示基数的一百的数词，同时常用作表示总体或完满的修饰成分，如“百年”“百无一失”中的“百”。biǎo shì jī shù de yì bǎi de shù cí tóng shí cháng yòng zuò biǎo shì zóng tǐ huò wán mǎn de xiū shì chéng fèn rú bǎi nián bǎi wú yì shī zhōng de bǎi

Word origin

The character 百 (bǎi, "hundred") is an old numeral sign preserved through changes in Chinese writing, rather than a modern combination whose parts must be read separately.

Usage tips

  • In 百分之百 (bǎi fēn zhī bǎi, "one hundred percent"), the repeated number signals a complete amount rather than a partial one.

Word lists with this word