整数 (zhěng shù) — integer, whole number | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

integerwhole number

Measure word · 个

Examples

整数，。
Jì suàn zhěng shù shí, bù néng yǒu xiǎo shù diǎn.
When calculating integers, you cannot have a decimal point.
整数，。
Zhè ge jià gé shì zhěng shù, bú yòng zhǎo líng.
This price is a round figure, no change needed.
，整数。
Zài shù jù kù zhōng, zhěng shù hé fú diǎn shù cún chǔ fāng shì bù tóng.
In databases, integers and floating-point numbers are stored differently.

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.

整 means whole and 数 means number, so 整数 is a whole number.

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.

敕正整

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

正

正zhèng整zhěng

Same sound today

整 pairs 敕 as the meaning side with 正 as the sound side.

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.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 Math

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