次 cì — nth; number (of times); order; sequence; next; second(ary)
这是我第一次来中国。Zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái Zhōng guó.This is my first time coming to China.
Common words: 下次 (xià cì)、上次 (shàng cì)、其次 (qí cì)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "number"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "number", including 次 (cì), 数 (shù), 号 (háo / hào), 码 (mǎ). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "number" covers 4 different Chinese characters — 次 (cì), 数 (shù), 号 (háo / hào), 码 (mǎ) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 4 characters do not share a sound — their readings span cì, shù, háo, hào, mǎ — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 次 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 次 cìnth; number (of times); order; sequence; next; second(ary)Useful words: 下次, 上次
- 数 shùto count; number; figure; to count; to calculate; severalUseful words: 数字, 大多数
- 号 háo / hàoroar; cry; day of a month; (suffix used after) name of a ship; (ordinal) numberUseful words: 信号, 号码
- 码 mǎa weight; number; yard; pile; stackUseful words: 号码, 密码
Common words for these 4 "number" characters
Anchor each of these 4 characters in a word you can picture — start with 次 (cì) — so "number" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
See each character in a sentence
Each character below is shown in a short example sentence with pinyin and an English translation — the quickest way to feel the difference between the 4 ways to say "number".
数 shù — to count; number; figure; to count; to calculate; several
请数一数一共有多少个苹果。Qǐng shǔ yi shǔ yí gòng yǒu duō shao ge píng guǒ.Please count how many apples there are in total.
Common words: 数字 (shù zì)、大多数 (dà duō shù)、人数 (rén shù)
号 háo / hào — roar; cry; day of a month; (suffix used after) name of a ship; (ordinal) number
今天是五月一号。Jīn tiān shì wǔ yuè yī hào.Today is May first.
Common words: 信号 (xìn hào)、号码 (hào mǎ)、符号 (fú hào)
码 mǎ — a weight; number; yard; pile; stack
请记住你的银行卡密码。Qǐng jì zhù nǐ de yín háng kǎ mì mǎ.Please remember your bank card password.
Common words: 号码 (hào mǎ)、密码 (mì mǎ)、数码 (shù mǎ)
All 4 characters
Open 次、数、号 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.