数

數
shǔ
HSK 6
#231 most
frequent character
to count, to enumerate
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

数 joins 攵, meaning 'to strike', with 娄 lóu, the sound part. It first meant 'to reprimand'. From there it grew to 'to calculate, count' and then 'number'.

数 as a component in other characters

sound2 characters
擞薮

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Example Sentences

我每天都要数手中的钱。
wǒ měitiān dūyào shù shǒuzhōng de qián 。
I have to count the money in my hand every day.
老师让我数一数这些书有多少本。
lǎoshī ràng wǒ shù yī shù zhèixiē shū yǒu duōshǎo běn 。
The teacher asked me to count how many books there are.
他总是喜欢数别人的错误。
tā zǒngshì xǐhuān shù biérén de cuòwù 。
He always likes to criticize other people's mistakes.

Same Characters, Different Readings

数shù
number, figure, several, a few
数shuò
(literary) frequently, repeatedly

Words with similar meanings

计算jìsuàn
to calculate
More mathematical in nature, often used in contexts involving calculations beyond simple counting.
清点qīngdiǎn
to check or tally
Implies checking the quantity of items, often used in a context where accuracy is important.

Homophones

属shǔ
be born in the year of (one of the twelve animals)
鼠shǔ
mouse, rat
署shǔ
office, bureau, to arrange

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Public Lists with 数

Numbers & Counting
Numerals, counting words, and measure words frequently used with numbers.
HSK 6
All words for the HSK 6 test