悉数 (xī shù) — (formal, noun) the total amount; the entire quantity

Definition

A formal written noun meaning 'the entire sum or quantity'. Used in official or report-style contexts (donations, losses, compensation), not in everyday speech.

noun
(formal, noun) the total amountthe entire quantity

Examples

  • 悉数。
    Qǐng bǎ kù cún de xī shù bào shàng lái.
    Please report the total amount of inventory.
  • 悉数。
    Juān kuǎn de xī shù yǐ jīng tǒng jì chū lái.
    The total amount of donations has been tallied.
  • 悉数。
    Duì fāng yāo qiú wǒ men péi cháng xī shù.
    The other party demanded we compensate the full amount.

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.

悉xīall
数shùnumber

All 数, number, taken together gives the complete amount.

Characters in this word

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

  • 釆釆biànto distinguish
  • 心心xīnheart

悉 has 釆, meaning “to distinguish,” above 心, meaning “heart.”

Open 悉 →

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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