数以千计 (shù yǐ qiān jì) — thousands of; numbering in the thousands

Definition

Literally 'counting by the thousand', this idiom is a fixed way to say there are a great many — at least thousands of something. It modifies a noun with 的, as in 数以千计的游客.

idiom

thousands ofnumbering in the thousands

Examples

数以千计。
shù yǐ qiān jì De yóu kè měi nián dōu lái zhè zuò gǔ chéng cān guān.
Thousands of tourists visit this ancient city every year.
，数以千计。
Zài zhè chǎng zāi nàn zhōng, shù yǐ qiān jì de jiā tíng shī qù le jiā yuán.
In this disaster, thousands of families lost their homes.
数以千计。
Zhè jiā gōng sī gù yòng le shù yǐ qiān jì de yuán gōng.
This company employs thousands of employees.

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 shape came from a drawing of a person carrying something; in 以, part of that person is still visible on the right.

Open 以 →

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

一一yīone, signifying a number

Sound part声符shēngfú

人

人rén千qiān

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

千 pairs 人, whose sound was similar, with 一, a number stroke; the extra line was explained as extension, and a thousand is a number reached by extending counting.

Open 千 →

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

This origin belongs to the traditional form 計; 计 is its simplified writing.

言十計