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数码 (shù mǎ) — digital (relating to digital technology or electronic devices)

Definition

At HSK 7, 数码 is the modern attributive for 'digital' in compounds like 数码时代 and 数码营销. 数字 also covers the 'digital' sense; 数码 is more colloquial and product/marketing-oriented, while 数字 leans technical/statistical.

adjective
digital (relating to digital technology or electronic devices)

Examples

  • 数码。
    Zhè kuǎn shù mǎ bō fàng qì de yīn zhì fēi cháng hǎo.
    The sound quality of this digital player is excellent.
  • 数码，。
    Suí zhe shù mǎ shí dài de dào lái, chuán tǒng háng yè yě zài zhuǎn xíng.
    With the arrival of the digital age, traditional industries are also transforming.
  • 数码。
    Tā fù zé gōng sī de shù mǎ yíng xiāo cè lüè.
    He is in charge of the company's digital marketing strategy.

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.

数shùnumber
码mǎcode

数 (number) and 码 (code) combine to mean code based on numbers, i.e. digital.

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 →

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 碼; 码 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
石石shístone; rock
Sound part声符shēngfú
馬
馬mǎ碼mǎ
Same sound today

The traditional form 碼 pairs 石 (stone) with 馬 for its sound; the simplified 码 is a later shorthand.

Open 码 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 5Computers & InternetTechnology & Engineering

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