大数
dà shù
The Chinese phrase for "large numbers" is 大数 (dà shù).
大数 refers to quantities that are great in size or amount.
How does it change in a sentence?
When counting or quantifying, different units are used to represent large scales: 十 (ten), 百 (hundred), 千 (thousand), 万 (ten thousand) and 亿 (one hundred million). Additionally, if you are counting large numbers of long, narrow objects such as rivers, streets or clothing, the counter word 条 is used.
How do you pronounce it?
dà shù
Did you know?
- When writing very large numbers on checks or legal documents, Chinese uses a special set of 'complex' characters called 大写 (dàxiě) to prevent fraud by adding extra strokes.
- Because the Chinese system jumps from 万 (ten thousand) to 亿 (one hundred million), there is no single-word term for 'million' in Chinese.
- The character 万 (ten thousand) is so fundamental to large numbers that it is often used as a metaphor for an 'uncountable' or 'infinite' amount in various idioms.
Examples in context
- 二十Twenty
- 一百One hundred
- 三千Three thousand
- 一亿One hundred million
- 五千三百二十一Five thousand three hundred twenty-one
- 一千多条街Over a thousand streets
Example conversation
Zihan and Junjie are studying mathematics together.
- 梓涵 Zihan俊杰，你会算这些大数吗？Jùnjié, nǐ huì suàn zhèxiē dàshù ma?Junjie, do you know how to calculate these large numbers?
- 俊杰 Junjie太难了，我还没学会。Tài nán le, wǒ hái méi xuéhuì.It's too hard, I haven't learned yet.
- 梓涵 Zihan我们可以一起试试看。Wǒmen kěyǐ yīqǐ shìshì kàn.We can try it together.
- 俊杰 Junjie好，谢谢你，梓涵。Hǎo, xièxiè nǐ, Zǐhán.Okay, thank you, Zihan.
