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数不胜数 (shǔ bù shèng shǔ) — (set phrase) too numerous to count; countless

Definition

Literally 'so many that you can't finish counting them.' A four-character idiom (chengyu) for an overwhelming, uncountable quantity. Stronger than 很多 — it emphasizes impossibility of counting, not just a large number.

idiom
(set phrase) too numerous to countcountless

Examples

  • 数不胜数。
    Zhè yàng de shì lì zài lì shǐ shàng shǔ bù shèng shǔ.
    Such examples in history are too numerous to count.
  • 数不胜数，。
    Tā shū jià shàng de shū shǔ bù shèng shǔ, jī hū fàng bú xià le.
    The books on his shelf are countless; there's almost no room left.
  • 数不胜数，。
    Wǎng luò shàng de xìn xī shǔ bù shèng shǔ, yào xué huì shāi xuǎn.
    Information on the internet is too numerous to count; you need to learn to filter it.

Origin

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.

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 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The picture in 不 originally showed a flower’s calyx; the “no” sense came later from a related character, not from this picture.

Open 不 →

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
肉肉ròumeat
Sound part声符shēngfú
生
生shēng胜shèng
Same sound today

The simplified 胜 changes the traditional 勝 by replacing part of its sound side with 生; the left 肉 relates to meat.

Open 胜 →

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
Idioms & Set PhrasesQuantity & Amount

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