Basic Meaning
The character 千 (qiān) means "thousand" and is used to count or quantify amounts in the thousands. It is a common numeral in everyday Chinese, especially when discussing quantities, prices, or large numbers.
Usage in Numbers
千 is often combined with other numbers to form multiples of a thousand, such as 一千 (one thousand), 五千 (five thousand), or 两千 (two thousand). It can also appear with approximate expressions like 上千 (over a thousand) or 几千 (several thousand).
Common Collocations
- 一千个 (one thousand units) — used to count people or objects.
- 五千块 (five thousand yuan) — used in prices or money.
- 上千封邮件 (over a thousand emails) — used to express large quantities.
Nuances and Tips
千 is a straightforward numeral without special tone or register. When used with measure words, it follows the standard Chinese number + measure word pattern. Avoid confusing 千 with 万 (ten thousand), which represents a larger quantity. 千 is always used for exact or approximate counts in the thousands range.
Common Confusion
Sometimes learners confuse 千 with its homophone 谦 (qiān), which means "modest." Pay attention to context and characters to avoid this mistake.