<p>Negative numbers are simply read <code>负xxx</code>, for example:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>-5 负五</p>
<p>-1234.5 负一千二百三十四点五</p>
<p>(-3) x 5 = -15 负三乘以五等于负十五</p>
<p>2^(-3) 二的负三次方</p>
</blockquote>
<p>When applied to certain domain, there might be domain specific way to read it. For example for temperature, it's more common to read it as 零下 (literally 'below zero'):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>-10°C 零下十（摄氏）度</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Reading as <code>负十度</code> is also correct, just less common.</p>
<p>Reference:</p>
<p><a href="http://beike.dangzhi.com/view/59ngmj" rel="noreferrer">人教版小学四年级数学 第七单元 生活中的负数</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-07-05T22:13:42.877Z
2013-07-05T22:13:42.877Z
2020-06-17T09:50:11.587Z
NS.X.
<p>There are plenty of posts for rules on numbers, but I can't seem to figure out how one would say, for example, -5 (negative five). I know that negative number is 负数, so would it just be 负五？</p>

<translation>
How to say a negative number in Mandarin?
# How to say a negative number in Mandarin?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-07-05)

There are plenty of posts for rules on numbers, but I can't seem to figure out how one would say, for example, -5 (negative five). I know that negative number is 负数, so would it just be 负五？

**Tags:** translation


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-07-05. Score: 14 | Accepted answer

Negative numbers are simply read `负xxx`, for example:

> -5 负五
>
> -1234.5 负一千二百三十四点五
>
> (-3) x 5 = -15 负三乘以五等于负十五
>
> 2^(-3) 二的负三次方

When applied to certain domain, there might be domain specific way to read it. For example for temperature, it's more common to read it as 零下 (literally 'below zero'):

> -10°C 零下十（摄氏）度

Reading as `负十度` is also correct, just less common.

Reference:

[人教版小学四年级数学 第七单元 生活中的负数](http://beike.dangzhi.com/view/59ngmj)


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