数以百万计 (shù yǐ bǎi wàn jì) — in the millions; numbering in the millions

Definition

An idiom meaning 'in the millions' or 'numbering in the millions' — used as an attributive before a noun (数以百万计的游客) to express huge quantity. A more literary and emphatic alternative to 几百万.

idiom

in the millionsnumbering in the millions

Examples

数以百万计。
Zhè ge xiàng mù xī yǐn le shù yǐ bǎi wàn jì de yóu kè.
This project attracts millions of tourists.
数以百万计。
Quán qiú shī yè rén shù shù yǐ bǎi wàn jì.
The number of unemployed people worldwide is in the millions.
数以百万计。
Zhè jiā gōng sī měi nián shēng chǎn shù yǐ bǎi wàn jì tái shǒu jī.
This company produces millions of phones each year.

Origin

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.

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 →

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

The shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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

一白百

Meaning part形符xíngfú

一一yī

Sound part声符shēngfú

白

白bái百bǎi

Same sound today

百 combines 一, which carries the number meaning, with 白, which provides the sound.

Open 百 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 萬; 万 is its simplified writing.

For 万, the form 萬 was originally a picture of a scorpion, later borrowed for its sound to write 'ten thousand'; the scorpion picture is unrelated to that number.

Open 万 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

言十計