數 / 数
shù
In Chinese, 'number' is said as 數 / 数 (shù). If unsure, use 數 / 数. Wiktionary also lists 數目 / 数目 (shùmù) and 數字 / 数字 (shùzì).
Meaning: abstract entity used to describe quantity (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 數 / 数 | shù |
| 數目 / 数目 | shùmù |
| 數字 / 数字 | shùzì |
The term refers to an abstract entity used to describe quantity.
What does it mean word for word?
The single character 數 / 数 (shù) literally means 'number' or 'mathematical value'.
Which one should you use?
There are several ways to express 'number' depending on the nuance: 數 / 数 (shù) is the most abstract form for a mathematical value. 數字 / 数字 (shùzì) is also used as an adjective to mean 'digital', such as in 'digital technology' (數字技術). Additionally, in the Dungan language, the forms фур and фурму are used.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is shù.
Did you know?
- In Chinese culture, specific numbers like 四 (four) are often avoided in elevators or hotels because they sound like the word for 'death'.
- While the character 數 / 数 is used for 'number', Chinese also uses the character 號 / 号 to refer to 'number' when it denotes a sequence or a label, such as a room number or a phone number.
- The character 數 / 数 contains the radical 攴, which represents a hand holding a stick. This suggests that the ancient concept of 'number' was deeply connected to the physical act of using a tool to count or strike objects.
Example sentences for Chinese are not verified yet.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “number” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
