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次数 (cì shù) — number of times; frequency; (mathematics) power; degree (of a polynomial)

Definition

次数 counts how many times something happens. Distinguish it from 频率, which measures how often per unit of time. In math it also means the power of a number, as in x⁵.

noun
number of timesfrequency(mathematics) powerdegree (of a polynomial)

Examples

  • 次数。
    Qǐng jì lù tā chí dào de cì shù.
    Please record the number of times he was late.
  • 次数。
    Wǒ men bǐ jiào le sān gè xiǎo zǔ de chū cuò cì shù.
    We compared the error counts of the three groups.
  • ，x⁵次数。
    Zài shù xué lǐ, x⁵ de cì shù shì wǔ.
    In mathematics, the power of x⁵ is five.

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.

次cìtimes
数shùnumber

次 marks occurrences and 数 counts them, so the whole is the count of times.

Characters in this word

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

The old form of 次 shows a person exhaling, with the marks above the figure representing breath.

Open 次 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Frequency & DurationMath

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