充数 (chōng shù) — to make up the number, to serve as a stopgap (often with the implication of being inadequate)

Definition

充数 (chōng shù) is a separable verb meaning to fill a spot just to reach the required number — always with a sense that the filler is inadequate. Insert a numeral/measure word between 充 and 数 (e.g. 充个人数, 充个数).

verb
to make up the numberto serve as a stopgap (often with the implication of being inadequate)

Examples

  • ，充数。
    Tā gēn běn bú huì tán gāng qín, zhǐ shì lái chōng shù de.
    He can't play the piano at all; he's just here to make up the numbers.
  • ，。
    Zhè cì bǐ sài wǒ men duì quē yí gè rén, zhǐ hǎo yòng tā chōng gè shù.
    Our team is missing one person for this competition, so we have to use him to fill a spot.
  • 充数，。
    Zhè xiē jiù shè bèi fàng zài cāng kù lǐ chōng shù, gēn běn bù néng yòng.
    These old pieces of equipment are just sitting in the warehouse to make up the count; they're completely unusable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

充chōngfill
数shùnumber

“充” means to fill and “数” means number, so it describes filling a required number.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 𠫓𠫓𠫓a newborn
  • 儿儿érstanding person

充 pairs 𠫓, a newborn, with 儿, a standing person, to picture a newborn growing to stand.

Open 充 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 數; 数 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
婁
婁lóu數shù(r)
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 數 pairs 攴, the meaning part, with 婁, the sound part; the simplified 数 is a shorthand.

Open 数 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.