Meaning
四十 is the number forty in Mandarin Chinese. It follows the standard pattern for numbers in Chinese where tens are formed by combining the digit (四, four) with 十 (ten), literally meaning 'four tens.' This is a fundamental number used in counting, ages, prices, and all contexts where the number 40 appears.
Usage
This number is used exactly like English 'forty' in all contexts: counting objects, telling age, stating prices, addresses, etc. When combined with a measure word and noun, the pattern is 四十 + measure word + noun. It's completely neutral in register and used in both spoken and written Chinese.
Examples
- 01我爸爸今年四十岁了。.My dad is forty years old this year.
- 02这本书四十块钱。.This book costs forty yuan.
Characters
Common collocations
- 四十岁forty years old
- 四十块钱forty yuan
- 四十个forty (items)
- 四十分钟forty minutes
Origin
Formed by the simple combination of 四 (four) and 十 (ten), following the transparent Chinese number system where multiples of ten are expressed as digit + 十.