所有数字
The phrase 'all the numbers' in Chinese is 所有数字.
For instance, you can build larger numbers by combining smaller ones: to say 21, you combine 二十 (twenty) and 一 (one) to get 二十一. To say 367, you say 三百六十七.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 所有 (suǒyǒu), meaning 'all/every' and 数字 (shùzì), meaning 'number/digit'.
Which one should you use?
While 所有数字 is a direct way to say 'all numbers', adding 的 to make 所有的数字 often sounds more idiomatic when used as a noun phrase in a sentence.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 的 between 所有 and 数字 to create 所有的数字 is a common way to make the phrase sound more natural and grammatically complete in many contexts.
Did you know?
- In China, the number 4 四 is often avoided in elevators or room numbers because it sounds almost identical to the word for 'death' 死. This linguistic taboo means that in some buildings, the fourth floor is skipped entirely.
- Chinese has a unique set of 'financial numbers' called 大写 used on checks and contracts to prevent fraud. These complex characters replace the standard symbols for numbers so that a simple stroke cannot change a 1 一 into a 2 二.
- In internet slang, Chinese speakers use numbers as homophones to send secret messages. For example, the sequence 520 is used to say 'I love you' because it sounds similar to 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ).
Examples in context
- 八六六五四三二一86654321
- 请把所有数字写下来。Qǐng bǎ suǒyǒu shùzì xiě xiàlái.Please write down all the numbers.
- 电脑里存着所有数字。Diànnǎo lǐ cúnzhe suǒyǒu shùzì.The computer stores all the numbers.
- 我检查了所有数字。Wǒ jiǎnchále suǒyǒu shùzì.I checked all the numbers.
Example conversation
Wei is checking a sales report with Jiayi in the office.
- 伟 Wei这些所有数字都对吗？Zhèxiē suǒyǒu shùzì dōu duì ma?Are all these numbers correct?
- 佳怡 Jiayi伟，我刚才已经核对过了。Wěi, wǒ gāngcái yǐjīng héduì guòle.Wei, I already checked them just now.
- 伟 Wei那太好了，辛苦你了。Nà tài hǎole, xīnkǔ nǐ le.That's great, thank you for your hard work.
- 佳怡 Jiayi不客气，这是我的工作。Bù kèqì, zhè shì wǒ de gōngzuò.You're welcome, it's my job.
