个数 (gè shù) — number (of items), count

Definition

noun

number (of items)count

Easily confused

个数？
Zhè ge bān jí de xué shēng gè shù shì duō shǎo?
What is the number of students in this class?
个数。
Wǒ men tǒng jì le chǎn pǐn de gè shù.
We counted the number of products.
个数。
Qǐng bǎ měi zǔ de gè shù jì xià lái.
Please record the count for each group.

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.

个gèindividual item

“个” points to individual items and “数” gives the count, meaning number of items.

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 個; 个 is its simplified writing.

亻固個

Meaning part形符xíngfú

亻Written in full as人rénperson

Sound part声符shēngfú

固

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

For 个, the form 個 pairs 亻 (person) with 固 as a sound part.

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