偶数
ǒushù
The English phrase 'even numbers' is translated into Mandarin as 偶数 (ǒushù).
The phrase refers to integers that can be divided by two without a remainder.
What does it mean word for word?
The term 偶数 (ǒushù) is composed of 偶 (ǒu), meaning 'pair' or 'even' and 数 (shù), meaning 'number'.
Which one should you use?
The opposite of 偶数 is 奇数 (qíshù), which means 'odd numbers'.
How does it change in a sentence?
When you want to refer to a quantity of items that is an even number, you can add the measure word suffix 个 to the phrase, resulting in 偶数个.
How do you pronounce it?
ǒushù
Did you know?
- The character 偶 (ǒu) does not just mean 'even' in a mathematical sense, but also refers to a 'soulmate' or 'spouse'.
- While English uses 'odd' for both non-even numbers and strange things, the Chinese word for odd numbers, 奇数 (qíshù), uses a character that also means 'strange' or 'wonderful'.
- The term 偶 (ǒu) is also used in the word 偶像 (ǒuxiàng), which means 'idol' in the sense of a pop star or celebrity.
Examples in context
- 四是一個 偶數 。Four is an even number.
- 这些都是偶数。Zhèxiē dōu shì ǒushù.These are all even numbers.
- 请找出所有的偶数。Qǐng zhǎochū suǒyǒu de ǒushù.Please find all the even numbers.
- 十是一个偶数。Shí shì yīgè ǒushù.Ten is an even number.
Example conversation
A teacher and a student are playing a math game.
- 雨婷 Yuting浩然，请说出一个偶数。Hàorán, qǐng shuō chū yīgè ǒushù.Haoran, please say an even number.
- 浩然 Haoran我想说二。Wǒ xiǎng shuō èr.I want to say two.
- 雨婷 Yuting没错，二是一个偶数。Méi cuò, èr shì yīgè ǒushù.That's right, two is an even number.
- 浩然 Haoran太好了，我答对了！Tài hǎole, wǒ dá duì le!Great, I got it right!
