单数 (dān shù) — (mathematics) odd number; (linguistics) singular number

Definition

单数 has two distinct uses: in math, 'odd number' (paired with 双数 'even'); in grammar, 'singular number' (the form of a noun referring to one person or thing).

noun
(mathematics) odd number(linguistics) singular number

Examples

  • ，单数。
    Zài shù xué zhōng, qī shì yí gè dān shù.
    In mathematics, seven is an odd number.
  • 单数？
    Zhè ge míng cí de dān shù xíng shì shì shén me?
    What is the singular form of this noun?
  • 单数。
    Tā wèn wǒ zhè shì dān shù hái shì shuāng shù.
    He asked me whether this is odd or even.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

单dānsingle
数shùnumber

单 and 数 combine to mean an odd or singular number.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 單; 单 is its simplified writing.

The form 單 originally pictured a Y-shaped wooden stick with two stones on top.

Open 单 →

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 →

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