第

dì

#114 most

frequent character

auxiliary word for ordinal numbers (second )

preposition

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

第 came from 弟, a picture of spear handles bound with a leather strap in good order. That gives the first sense, 'ordered strap on a spear handle'. From 'order' it grew to 'ordinal number' and 'rank'. 𥫗 is now empty, and 𢎨 acts as both sound and picture part.

Drawn as: spear handles tied together; leather strap around handles

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Example Sentences

我在第二个班级。

wǒzài dìèrgè bānjí 。

I am in the second class.

她是第一名。

tāshì dìyī míng 。

She is the first place.

这是我的第三次尝试。

zhè shì wǒde dìsāncì chángshì 。

This is my third attempt.

Grammar Points

Ordinal numbers with "di"

Homophones

to hand over, to pass on sth

(bound form) bull's-eye, target

stem (of fruit)

Words Starting With 第

first; number one

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