数列 (shù liè) — sequence (of numbers), progression

Definition

noun

sequence (of numbers)progression

数列。
Zhè ge shù liè de guī lǜ shì měi gè shù bǐ qián yí gè dà sān.
The rule of this sequence is that each number is three larger than the previous one.
数列数列。
Wǒ men zhèng zài xué xí děng chā shù liè hé děng bǐ shù liè.
We are learning arithmetic sequences and geometric sequences.
数列。
Fěi bō nà qì shù liè zài zì rán jiè zhōng hěn cháng jiàn.
The Fibonacci sequence is very common in nature.

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.

数 means numbers, and 列 means a row or series, so together they express an ordered series of numbers.

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.

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

列 combines 歹, drawn as skeletal remains, and 刀, a knife, to depict tearing apart.

Appears in