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 "sequence"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "sequence", including 次 (cì), 序 (xù). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms, common words, and examples.
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "sequence" covers 2 different Chinese characters — 次 (cì), 序 (xù) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 2 characters do not share a sound — their readings span cì, xù — 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
- 序 xùorder; sequence; prefaceUseful words: 程序, 顺序
Common words for these 2 "sequence" characters
Anchor each of these 2 characters in a word you can picture — start with 次 (cì) — so "sequence" 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 2 ways to say "sequence".
序 xù — order; sequence; preface
请按顺序排队进场。Qǐng àn shùn xù pái duì jìn chǎng.Please line up in order to enter.
Common words: 程序 (chéng xù)、顺序 (shùn xù)、秩序 (zhì xù)
All 2 characters
Open 次、序 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.