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第二 (dì èr) — (ordinal) second; number two; next (in sequence); secondary (in importance or rank)

Definition

Ordinal number meaning 'second' in a sequence (第二名 'second place'). As a prefix it can mean 'secondary' (第二重要 'of secondary importance'), distinct from the cardinal 二.

numeral
(ordinal) secondnumber twonext (in sequence)secondary (in importance or rank)

Examples

  • 第二。
    Tā shì wǒ men bān dì èr gāo de xué shēng.
    He is the second tallest student in our class.
  • 第二。
    Zhè ge wèn tí shì dì èr gè yào jiě jué de.
    This problem is the second one to solve.
  • 第二。
    Zhè zhǐ shì dì èr zhòng yào de shì qing.
    This is only a secondary matter.

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
二èrtwo

第 marks order, and 二 gives the number two.

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.

二 is drawn as two parallel strokes, where the number of strokes shows the amount.

Open 二 →
Appears in
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