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Numbers and Measure WordsHSK 3

Ordinal numbers with 第

To form an ordinal number in Chinese, prefix the number with 第 (dì). When the ordinal modifies a noun, the full pattern is 第 + Number + Measure Word + Noun, e.g., 第一个人 (the first person). In ranking statements or predicates, the noun can be dropped: 我是第一 (I am first). Be careful not to omit the measure word when a noun follows.

Structure

第 + Number + Measure Word + Noun
The noun and measure word may be omitted when used as a predicate or in ranking.

Examples

  • 我是第一个到公司的人。
    Wǒ shì dì-yī gè dào gōngsī de rén.
    I'm the first person that came to the office.
  • 小李是她的第三个男朋友。
    Xiǎo Lǐ shì tā de dì-sān gè nánpéngyou.
    Little Li is her third boyfriend.
  • 这次考试，我是我们班第一。
    Zhè cì kǎoshì, wǒ shì wǒmen bān dì-yī .
    On this test, I was first in our class.
  • 第一天，我们在宾馆里。
    Dì-yī tiān , wǒmen zài bīnguǎn lǐ.
    On the first day, we will be in the hotel.
  • 第二行第五个汉字怎么读？
    Dì-èr háng dì-wǔ gè Hànzì zěnme dú?
    How do you read the fifth character from the second line?

Words that use this