尾数 (wěi shù) — (noun) last digit (of a number); (noun) small remainder or fractional amount; (noun) balance of an account

Definition

Literally 'tail number', 尾数 refers to the last digit(s) of a number and, by extension, the small leftover amount or remaining balance in financial contexts.

noun
last digit (of a number)small remainder or fractional amountbalance of an account

Examples

  • 尾数。
    Zhè ge jià gé de wěi shù shì jiǔ.
    The last digit of this price is 9.
  • 尾数。
    Zhǎo huí lái de wěi shù zhǐ yǒu jǐ máo qián.
    The change returned was only a few jiao.
  • 尾数。
    Zhàng hù de wěi shù hái yǒu liǎng wàn wǔ qiān yuán.
    The account balance still has 25,000 yuan.

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.

尾wěiend
数shùnumber

尾 means end, 数 means number; together the last digit or remainder.

Characters in this word

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

The form 尾 combines 尸 (person) and 毛 (hair; feather).

Open 尾 →

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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