数 Stroke Order — How to Write 数
数 is written in 13 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 攵, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
数 Radical and Character Components
数 is a phono-semantic compound: 攵 (script) carries the meaning, while 娄 indicates the sound.
Radical: 攵 + 9 more strokes
数 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- shù
- shǔ
- shuò
Meanings of 数 in Chinese
1
shù数
Quantity; amount; a number or figure obtained by counting or calculation.
商品数量有限，请尽快购买。
The quantity of goods is limited, please purchase as soon as possible.
Several; a few (used to indicate an indefinite small number)
他出差在外数日，终于回家了。
He was away on a business trip for several days, and finally returned home.
Skill, art, or academic discipline; often referring to a specific technique or branch of knowledge, as in the ancient saying 'Now, the art of chess is a minor skill.'
琴棋书画，皆为雅数。
Playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, and painting are all elegant arts.
Fate, destiny; an unalterable sequence of events or fortune.
事已至此，只能说是天数使然
Things have come to this, one can only say it's the work of destiny.
2
shǔ数
To count one by one; enumerate, often referring to specific periods of time or items.
北方冬天很冷，人们从冬至那天开始数九。
Winters in the north are very cold; people start counting the 'nine-day periods of winter' from the winter solstice.
To be considered outstanding or among the best; to be noteworthy.
这家餐厅的菜在当地数得着。
The dishes at this restaurant are considered among the best locally.
To scold or criticize by enumerating someone's faults or mistakes.
妈妈因为我没做完作业，把我数落了一顿
My mom scolded me because I didn't finish my homework.
To talk about, recount, or enumerate, often referring to past events, achievements, or faults.
他总是喜欢在朋友面前数说自己的旅行经历。
He always likes to recount his travel experiences in front of friends.
3
shuò数
Repeatedly; frequently. Used to describe something that happens often.
这类新闻在日常生活中已是数见不鲜，我们应学会理性判断。
This kind of news is already a common occurrence in daily life; we should learn to judge rationally.
Common Words and Phrases with 数
1
A mathematical chart or table, such as integral tables or trigonometric function tables.
在学习三角函数时，学生们经常需要查阅数表来找到特定角度的正弦、余弦和正切值。
When studying trigonometric functions, students often need to consult mathematical tables to find the sine, cosine, and tangent values for specific angles.
2
innumerable; countless
图书馆里有数不清的书，涵盖了各种各样的学科。
There are countless books in the library, covering a wide variety of subjects.
3
too many to count; countless
这座博物馆里珍贵的藏品数不胜数。
The valuable collections in this museum are too numerous to count.
4
5
to count (one by one); to check by counting
她蹲下来，数点着地上的落叶，每一片都那么独特。
She knelt down, counting the fallen leaves on the ground, each one so unique.
6
To forget one's origins or ancestral heritage; to be ungrateful to one's roots.
有些年轻人盲目追求西方文化，对自己的传统一无所知，这简直是数典忘祖。
Some young people blindly pursue Western culture, knowing nothing about their own traditions; this is simply forgetting their roots.
7
A specific amount, sum, or number.
奖学金的数额取决于学生的学业成绩。
The amount of the scholarship depends on the student's academic performance.
8
The dog days of summer; a period of intense heat lasting 30-40 days, typically divided into three ten-day periods, which begins on the third 'geng' day after the Summer Solstice.
今天开始数伏了，天气越来越热，大家要注意防暑降温。
Today marks the beginning of the dog days of summer, and the weather is getting hotter. Everyone should pay attention to heatstroke prevention and cooling down.
9
To gossip and sow discord by criticizing others.
办公室里，有些人喜欢在背后数黑论黄，使得团队合作受到了影响。
In the office, some people like to gossip and criticize behind others' backs, which affects team cooperation.
10
The nine nine-day periods following the winter solstice, considered the coldest part of the year in traditional Chinese culture.
老人们常说，数九过后，春天就不远了
Elderly people often say that after the 'counting nines' period, spring is not far away.
11
the coldest days of the year
即使在数九寒天，老人们也坚持每天早起锻炼身体。
Even in the dead of winter, the elderly still insist on getting up early every day to exercise.
12
Data; facts and statistics collected together for reference or analysis.
这次实验收集到的数据将帮助我们更好地理解材料的性质。
The data collected from this experiment will help us better understand the properties of the material.
13
Shulaibao is a traditional Chinese rhythmic storytelling or singing performance, typically accompanied by clappers and often featuring improvised lyrics.
在社区文化节上，一位老先生表演了一段传统的数来宝，赢得现场观众的阵阵掌声。
At the community cultural festival, an elderly gentleman performed a traditional Shulaibao, winning rounds of applause from the audience.
14
The amount or number of something.
我们需要统计仓库里商品的数量。
We need to count the quantity of goods in the warehouse.
15
A combination of a numeral and a classifier, used to express quantity.
我昨天在图书馆借了三本书。
I borrowed three books from the library yesterday.
More words with 数
- cì次shù数number of times; frequency
- dú读shù数reading; instrument reading
- dù度shu数number of degrees; reading
- còu凑shù数make up the number, serve as a filler
- é额shù数fixed number; quota
- gài概shù数approximate number
- gòu够shù数To be sufficient, To be enough
- hào号shù数serial number
- huàn幻shù数Magic Number
- jié劫shù数doom, destined calamity
- mìng命shù数fate; destiny
- piào票shù数number of votes; vote count
- shòu寿shù数lifespan, longevity
- suàn算shù数arithmetic, calculation
- wěi尾shù数Remainder, Last figure
- yīn因shù数factor, divisor
- yuē约shù数divisor, factor
- zhì质shù数prime number
- jí级shù数series
- xì系shù数coefficient
Idioms with 数
- shǔ数duǎn短lùn论cháng长criticize others' faults and shortcomings
- shǔ数huáng黄dào道hēi黑ramble on irrelevantly
- shuò数jiàn见bù不xiān鲜commonly seen, no longer new
- shǔ数mǐ米liáng量chái柴haggle over every ounce
- shǔ数wǎng往zhī知lái来Analyze past to predict future
- shǔ数yī一shǔ数èr二one of the best
- shù数yǐ以wàn万jì计numbering in the tens of thousands
- shù数zuì罪bìng并fá罚punish multiple crimes concurrently
- bèi备wèi位chōng充shù数fill a post without contributing effectively
- bù不jì计qí其shù数countless, too many to be counted
- bù不kě可shèng胜shǔ数too many to count
- hún浑shēn身xiè解shù数display all one's skills
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Open the tool →Questions about 数
What does 数 mean in Chinese?
数 (shù) means “Quantity” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 数?
数 has 3 pronunciations: shù, shǔ, shuò.
How many strokes does 数 have?
数 has 13 strokes.
How do you write 数?
数 is written in 13 strokes, starting from the radical 攵. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 数?
The radical of 数 is 攵, and 数 is a phono-semantic compound.
