TongTong
Sign in

天文数字 (tiān wén shù zì) — astronomical figure, enormous number (used hyperbolically)

Definition

Literally 'astronomical figure' — a number so large it's almost unimaginable, used as a hyperbolic noun for costs, debts, or quantities. The word itself is fixed: it always refers to a huge amount, never an actual science-related number.

noun
astronomical figureenormous number (used hyperbolically)

Examples

  • 天文数字。
    Zhè ge xiàng mù de fèi yòng shì yí gè tiān wén shù zì.
    The cost of this project is an astronomical figure.
  • 天文数字。
    Tā qiàn de zhài yǐ jīng biàn chéng le tiān wén shù zì.
    The debt he owes has become an astronomical figure.
  • ，天文数字。
    Duì pǔ tōng rén lái shuō, yí yì yǐ jīng shì tiān wén shù zì le.
    For ordinary people, 100 million is already an astronomical figure.

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.

天文astronomy
天tiānheaven文wénpattern
偏正Modifier + head
数字number
数shùnumber字zìcharacter
偏正Modifier + head

天文 means astronomy and 数字 means number, suggesting a number so vast it seems astronomical.

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
大大dà
Sound part声符shēngfú
丁
丁dīng天tiān
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The shape comes from a frontal standing man 大 with a head; 天 pairs 大 with 丁 for sound.

Open 天 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

The current form 文 shows a man with head, arms, legs, and chest; the tattoo marks on the chest are no longer drawn.

Open 文 →

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 →

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
宀宀miánroof
Sound part声符shēngfú
子
子zǐ字zì
Same sound today

字 pairs 宀 (roof) with 子 (child); 子 gives the sound, while 宀 relates to the meaning.

Open 字 →
Appears in
Abstract ConceptsNumbers & Counting

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.