第六 (dì liù) — sixth | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

numeral

sixth

Examples

第六。
Zhè shì tā dì liù cì lái zhōng guó.
This is his sixth time coming to China.
第六。
Wǒ zhù zài zhè dòng lóu de dì liù céng.
I live on the sixth floor of this building.
第六。
dì liù Jié kè shì lì shǐ kè.
The sixth class is history.

Origin

Derived word

构词法gòucífǎ

前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

第dìorder marker

第 shows the order and 六 is six, so the word means the sixth.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo

Sound part声符shēngfú

弟

弟dì第dì

Same sound today

第 shows 𥫗, the bamboo strips once used for writing and sorting, with 弟 giving the sound.

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

The shape of 六 may come from a simple drawing of a shed, or from an ancient counting mark.

Appears in

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