Some of the best language lessons are the simplest. This is a complete, no-prep Mandarin game you can run in about fifteen minutes, and it gets every student listening, speaking and having fun. Best of all, the printable flashcards you need are free to download below. Print, cut, and you are ready to play.

Free printable: Mandarin numbers 1–10 flashcards

Ten ready-to-print cards with the character, pinyin and numeral. Print, cut and play, no login needed.

Download the free flashcards (PDF) →

The numbers you'll need

The whole game runs on the numbers one to ten. Here they are, with the character and the pinyin (the sound written in our alphabet, with a mark showing the tone).

NumberCharacterPinyin
1一yī
2二èr
3三sān
4四sì
5五wǔ
6六liù
7七qī
8八bā
9九jiǔ
10十shí

How to play "Number Snatch"

The aim is simple: hear a number in Mandarin, and be the first to grab the matching card. It takes two minutes to explain and students pick it up instantly.

1
Give each small group or pair a full set of the printed number cards, spread face-up on the desk so every card is visible. If you like, keep one master set at the front for yourself.
2
Say a number out loud in Mandarin, for example sān for three. Start slowly, and repeat each number a couple of times while students are still learning.
3
The first student in each group to grab the correct card keeps it. Everyone says the number aloud together to confirm, which sneaks in extra speaking practice.
4
Carry on calling numbers at a quickening pace. After a few rounds, the student with the most cards in each group is the winner. Reshuffle and play again, it is always requested.
Teacher tip: if grabbing cards gets a little too lively, switch to "point, don't snatch", where students simply place a finger on the correct card. Same learning, calmer classroom.

Three quick ways to level it up

Once your class knows the basic game, keep it fresh with these variations:

A
Tone challenge: students must say the number back with the correct tone before they keep the card. Great for sharpening pronunciation.
B
Sums version: call a simple addition in Mandarin, like èr plus sān, and students snatch the answer (five). Sneaks in maths and listening at once.
C
Team relay: one representative from each team races to the board to grab the number from a shared set. Adds energy and teamwork.

Why this game works

Short, active games like this are perfect for primary language learning. Students hear each number many times without it feeling like drilling, the snatching adds just enough excitement to keep everyone focused, and saying the numbers aloud builds pronunciation and confidence. Fifteen minutes of this does more for recall than a worksheet ever could, and it needs almost no preparation.

If your class enjoys it, the same format works for colours, days of the week or classroom objects. And if you are just getting started, our beginner's guide to teaching Mandarin walks you through pinyin, tones and where to begin.

Want the full Mandarin program?

Our Mandarin resources include print-and-go worksheets with pinyin and characters, no-prep lessons and a full-year program, mapped to Kindergarten through Year 6 and the Australian Curriculum.

Explore our Mandarin resources
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