序数 (xù shù) — ordinal number (a number indicating position in a sequence, e.g., first, second, third)

Definition

A noun meaning 'ordinal number' — a number showing position in a sequence (first, second, third). Contrast with 基数, which is a 'cardinal number' showing quantity (one, two, three).

noun
ordinal number (a number indicating position in a sequence, e.g., first, second, third)
Easily confused

Examples

  • ，序数“”。
    Zài hàn yǔ zhōng, xù shù qián miàn yào jiā "dì".
    In Chinese, you need to add 'dì' before an ordinal number.
  • 序数，。
    xù shù Hé jī shù bù tóng, tā biǎo shì shùn xù.
    Ordinal numbers are different from cardinal numbers; they indicate order.
  • 序数。
    Zhè ge bǐ sài de qián sān míng àn xù shù pái liè.
    The top three places in this competition are arranged by ordinal number.

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.

序xùorder
数shùnumber

The 序 order gives a kind of 数 number, an ordinal.

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
广广guǎng
Sound part声符shēngfú
予
予yǔ序xù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

序 combines 广 and 予; 予 gives the sound, while 广 marks the meaning.

Open 序 →

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 →

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