全数 (quán shù) — total number; whole amount

Definition

noun

total numberwhole amount

全数。
Zhè cì huó dòng de quán shù fèi yòng yóu gōng sī chéng dān.
The total cost of this event is borne by the company.
全数。
quán shù Huò wù yǐ jīng fā chū.
All the goods have been shipped.
全数。
Wǒ men xū yào hé duì quán shù jīn é.
We need to check the total amount.

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.

全 gives whole, and 数 means number, so it names the total amount.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

The shape puts 入 together with 玉 to show a whole piece of jade, so it means complete or whole.

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.

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