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)
Meaning Index
Chinese characters meaning "to calculate"
Learn Chinese characters with the meaning "to calculate", including 数 (shù), 计 (jì), 算 (suàn). Study pinyin, English meanings, traditional forms…
How to Study This Meaning Group
The English word "to calculate" covers 3 different Chinese characters — 数 (shù), 计 (jì), 算 (suàn) — and each is its own word with its own feel. These 3 characters do not share a sound — their readings span shù, jì, suàn — so confirm the pinyin and tone for each one separately. The example sentences further down show how 数 and the others are actually used, so you learn them in context rather than as a single translation.
- 数 shùto count; number; figure; to count; to calculate; severalUseful words: 数字, 大多数
- 计 jìto calculate; to compute; to count; reckon; ruse; to planUseful words: 计划, 计算机
- 算 suànregard as; to figure; to calculate; to computeUseful words: 打算, 计算机
Common words for these 3 "to calculate" characters
Anchor each of these 3 characters in a word you can picture — start with 数 (shù) — so "to calculate" turns into concrete usage instead of a one-to-one translation.
数字shù zìnumeral; digit; number; figure大多数dà duō shù(great) majority人数rén shùnumber of people计划jì huàplan; project; program; to plan计算机jì suàn jīcomputer; (Tw) calculator设计shè jìto design; to plan; design; plan打算dǎ suànto plan; to intend; to calculate; plan计算机jì suàn jīcomputer; (Tw) calculator计算jì suànto calculate; to compute; to consider; to think over
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 3 ways to say "to calculate".
计 jì — to calculate; to compute; to count; reckon; ruse; to plan
我们已经定好了旅行计划。Wǒ men yǐ jīng dìng hǎo le lǚ xíng jì huà.We have already made the travel plan.
Common words: 计划 (jì huà)、计算机 (jì suàn jī)、设计 (shè jì)
算 suàn — regard as; to figure; to calculate; to compute
我来算一算一共多少钱。Wǒ lái suàn yi suàn yí gòng duō shao qián.Let me calculate how much it is in total.
Common words: 打算 (dǎ suàn)、计算机 (jì suàn jī)、计算 (jì suàn)
All 3 characters
Open 数、计、算 or any character below to hear it read aloud and see it used in an example sentence.