第 — ordinal prefix
ordinal prefix ("-th")
How to pronounce it
第 is read dì. The tone is part of the word: with another melody you get another word, or just a jumble of sounds.
How to write it
Strokes go in order: top to bottom and left to right, horizontal before vertical. Tap a character to open its page, with the strokes shown large and the words it appears in. To train your hand, print a handwriting sheet for “第”.
Examples
Sentences from the course lessons with 第. Tap the sound icon to listen.
- 请打开课本，看第十五页。qǐngdǎkāikèběn,kàndìshíwǔyèPlease open your textbook to page fifteen.
- 请读第二段课文qǐngdúdì’èrduànkèwénPlease read the second paragraph of the text.
- 他得2了第一名tādéledìyīmíngHe took first place.
- 当我第一次来中国的时候，我一句汉语也不会说。dāngwǒdìyīcìláiZhōngguódeshíhou,wǒyíjùHànyǔyěbúhuìshuōWhen I first came to China, I couldn’t say a single word of Chinese.
- 友谊第一比赛第二yǒuyìdìyī,bǐsàidì’èrFriendship first, competition second.
- 你看到第几集了？nǐkàndàodìjǐjíleWhich episode are you up to?
More characters by topic — happiness, luck, strength, nature — on the page “Chinese characters with meanings”.
More words from the lesson “Day of the week”
Look up another word in the Chinese–English dictionary: in English, in pinyin or in characters.
Frequently asked questions
What does 第 mean?
第 (dì) means “ordinal prefix ("-th")”.
How do you write 第?
第 is 1 character. The stroke order of each one is shown step by step on this page.
How do you pronounce 第?
第 is read dì. Tones: dì — fourth tone. The page has a native speaker recording.
“ordinal prefix” in the lesson “Day of the week”
This word is from the topic “Time and the day” of HSK 1. In the lesson you hear it in a dialogue, build a sentence with it and say it out loud. Start for free, no sign-up needed.
Start for free