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第三 (dì sān) — the third

Definition

numeral
the third

Examples

  • 第三。
    Tā shì wǒ men bān dì sān míng.
    He is third in our class.
  • 第三。
    Zhè shì wǒ dì sān cì lái zhōng guó.
    This is my third time coming to China.
  • 第三。
    Wǒ zhù zài dì sān céng.
    I live on the third floor.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
前缀qiánzhuìPrefix

A fixed syllable in front that adds a shade of meaning but carries none of its own.

第dìordinal
三sānthree

“第” places the number in a sequence and “三” means three.

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
𥫗Written in full as竹zhúbamboo
Sound part声符shēngfú
弟
弟dì第dì
Same sound today

第 shows 𥫗, the bamboo strips once used for writing and sorting, with 弟 giving the sound.

Open 第 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

三 is drawn as three parallel strokes, like 一 with one stroke and 二 with two.

Open 三 →
Appears in
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