数字
The English phrase 'numbers' is translated into Chinese as 数字.
数字 is used to refer to numbers in a general sense. It is also the specific term used to refer to 'digits', meaning the individual symbols 0-9.
What does it mean word for word?
The word 数字 consists of 数 (shù), which means number or count and 字 (zì), which means character or symbol.
How does it change in a sentence?
Unlike English, the Chinese word 数字 does not change its form to indicate plurality. The context or a quantifier determines if it refers to one number or many.
Did you know?
- Traditional Chinese 数字 for numbers 1 through 9 have complex characters, but they also have simplified 'financial' versions called 'da xie' to prevent fraud in banking.
- In casual settings, people use hand gestures to represent 数字 from 1 to 10 with a single hand, including a unique sign for '6' and '8'.
- The Chinese counting system is based on powers of 10,000 rather than 1,000, meaning the 数字 for 'ten thousand' (万) is a primary unit.
Examples in context
- 算数处理数字。Arithmetic deals with numbers.This sentence shows how arithmetic processes 数字.Tatoeba #2819991 by CLARET, translation #245172 by Zifre
- 那些数字是什么？What are those numbers?This sentence is useful for asking about the identity of specific 数字.Tatoeba #4844975 by pig8322, translation #2645667 by CK
- 我母亲宁愿选彩票机上的任意数字，也不选我的幸运数字。My mother prefers the arbitrary selection of the lottery machines over my lucky numbers.This sentence shows the use of 数字 in the context of lottery machines and lucky numbers.Tatoeba #502909 by fucongcong, translation #1932 by Zifre
Example conversation
雨婷 and 志强 are looking at a math problem.
- 雨婷 Yuting这些数字怎么读？zhè xiē shù zì zěn me dú?How do you read these numbers?
- 志强 Zhiqiang这几个数字很简单。zhè jǐ gè shù zì hěn jiǎn dān.These numbers are very simple.
- 雨婷 Yuting志强，你能教我吗？zhì qiáng, nǐ néng jiāo wǒ ma?Zhiqiang, can you teach me?
- 志强 Zhiqiang没问题，我们可以开始。méi wèn tí, wǒ men kě yǐ kāi shǐ.No problem, we can start.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
