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指数 (zhǐ shù) — (economics/statistics) index; (mathematics) exponent; exponential

Definition

指数 has two distinct senses: in economics/statistics it means an 'index' (e.g. price index); in math it means 'exponent' or 'exponential'. 与指标不同，指数 is a calculated numerical value or a mathematical power, not a target or quota.

noun
(economics/statistics) index(mathematics) exponentexponential
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 指数。
    Zhè ge yuè de xiāo fèi zhě wù jià zhǐ shù bǐ shàng ge yuè xià jiàng le.
    This month's consumer price index dropped compared to last month.
  • ，指数。
    Zài shù xué zhōng, zhǐ shù biǎo shì yí gè shù zì chéng de cì shù.
    In mathematics, the exponent indicates how many times a number is multiplied by itself.
  • 指数。
    Zhè zhǒng bìng dú de chuán bō chéng zhǐ shù zēng zhǎng qū shì.
    The spread of this virus shows an exponential growth trend.

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.

指zhǐindicate
数shùnumber

指 indicates and 数 is a number, giving an index or exponent.

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
扌Written in full as手shǒu
Sound part声符shēngfú
旨
旨zhǐ指zhǐ
Same sound today

The left part 扌 is the hand form 手. The right part 旨 gives the sound.

Open 指 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Economy & TradeMath

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