数日 (shù rì) — several days, a few days

Definition

A written/formal noun for 'several days / a few days'. More literary than plain 几天 and normally used in writing or reports rather than daily speech.

noun

several daysa few days

数日。
Tā zài nà lǐ zhù le shù rì jiù yào lí kāi.
He stayed there for several days and then left.
数日，。
shù rì Zhī hòu, wǒ men shōu dào le tā de huí xìn.
A few days later, we received his reply.
数日。
Zhè qǐ shì jiàn fā shēng zài shù rì qián.
This incident happened several days ago.

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 several and 日 means days, so 数日 refers to a period of several days.

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.

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

日 originally drew the sun. A mark was added inside to tell it apart from similar square shapes.