度数 (dù shù) — degree (of temperature, alcohol, angle, etc.);…

Definition

noun

degree (of temperature, alcohol, angle, etc.)reading (on a meter or gauge)

度数。
Zhè píng bái jiǔ de dù shù fēi cháng gāo.
This bottle of baijiu has a very high alcohol content.
度数。
Zuì jìn wǒ de dù shù yòu zēng jiā le wǔ shí dù.
Recently my eyeglass prescription increased by another 50 degrees.
度数。
Yī shēng jiǎn chá hòu shuō tā de tǐ wēn dù shù zhèng cháng.
After the checkup, the doctor said his temperature reading is normal.

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.

度 gives degree and 数 gives number, together meaning a reading or number of degrees.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

石

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

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.