Chinese · Numbers & Time
shí
Ten
The number ten, the base for forming larger numbers.
我等了十分钟。
I waited for ten minutes.
'十' (shí) comes from ancient numeral systems, where it was represented pictorially. Its evolution has kept the character visually consistent across many centuries.
'十' is used in all forms of communication in Chinese, present in both spoken and written contexts, suitable for casual conversations and formal discussions alike.