數

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See also: 数
數 U+6578, 數
CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-6578
← 敷
 		CJK Unified Ideographs 敹 →
數 U+F969, 數
CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F969
← 泌
 		CJK Compatibility Ideographs 索 →

Translingual

Japanese 数
Simplified 数
Traditional 數

Han character

數 (Kangxi radical 66, 攴+11, 15 strokes, cangjie input 中女人大 (LVOK), four-corner 58440, composition ⿰婁攵)

Derived characters

References

  • Kangxi Dictionary: page 475, character 4
  • Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 13363
  • Dae Jaweon: page 829, character 7
  • Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 2, page 1474, character 1
  • Unihan data for U+6578

Chinese

trad. 數
simp. 数
2nd round simp. 𮲓

Glyph origin

Characters in the same phonetic series (婁) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 
Old Chinese
樓 *ɡ·roː
摟 *roː, *ro
耬 *roː
僂 *ɡ·roː, *ɡ·roːs, *ɡ·roʔ
婁 *ɡ·roː, *ɡ·ro
螻 *roː
髏 *roː
蔞 *roː, *ro, *roʔ
鞻 *roː
艛 *ɡ·roː
膢 *roː, *ro
廔 *roː
嘍 *roː, *roːʔ
瞜 *roː, *ro
簍 *roː, *roːʔ, *roʔ
慺 *roː, *ro, *roʔ
鷜 *roː, *ro
褸 *roː, *roʔ
遱 *roː
謱 *roː, *roːʔ, *roʔ
嶁 *roːʔ, *roʔ
甊 *roːʔ
塿 *roːʔ
漊 *roːʔ, *roʔ
鏤 *roːs, *ro
瘻 *roːs, *ro
擻 *sloːʔ
藪 *sloːʔ
籔 *sloːʔ, *sroʔ
氀 *ro
縷 *roʔ
屢 *ros
數 *sroʔ, *sros, *sroːɡ
屨 *klos
窶 *ɡloʔ
貗 *ɡloʔ

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sroʔ, *sros, *sroːɡ) : phonetic 婁 (OC *ɡ·roː, *ɡ·ro) + semantic 攴.

Etymology 1

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *r-tsjəj (“to count”); cognate to Tibetan རྩི (rtsi, “to count; to calculate”), Burmese ရေ (re, “to count”), Jingpho hti, Ersu htɛ⁵⁵ (STEDT).

Schuessler (2007) connects this word with Austroasiatic; compare Mon ရိုဟ် (rɜ̀h), from Middle Mon ruih (“to count”), from Proto-Mon-Khmer *rʔis (“to count”).

Pronunciation

Note:
  • só - vernacular;
  • sū - literary, rare.
Note:
  • siàu - vernacular (“to count”);
  • só͘/sò͘ - literary (“to be reckoned as; to criticise”).
Note:
  • siao3 - Shantou;
  • siou3 - Chaozhou.
  • Dialectal data
Variety Location 數 (數錢)
Mandarin Beijing /ʂu²¹⁴/
Harbin /ʂu²¹³/
Tianjin /su¹³/
Jinan /ʂu⁵⁵/
Qingdao /ʂu⁵⁵/
Zhengzhou /ʂuo⁵³/
Xi'an /fu⁵³/
Xining /fv̩⁵³/
Yinchuan /su⁵³/
Lanzhou /fu⁴⁴²/
Ürümqi /ʂu²¹³/
/fu²¹³/
Wuhan /səu⁴²/
Chengdu /su⁵³/
Guiyang /su⁴²/
Kunming /su⁵³/
Nanjing /su²¹²/
Hefei /sʊ²⁴/
Jin Taiyuan /su⁵³/
Pingyao /sz̩ʷ⁵³/
Hohhot /su⁵³/
Wu Shanghai /su³⁵/
Suzhou /səu⁵¹/
Hangzhou /su⁵³/
Wenzhou /sz̩³⁵/
Hui Shexian /su³⁵/
Tunxi /səu³¹/
Xiang Changsha /səu⁴¹/
Xiangtan /səɯ⁴²/
Gan Nanchang /su²¹³/
Hakka Meixian /su³¹/
Taoyuan
Cantonese Guangzhou /sou³⁵/
Nanning /su³⁵/
Hong Kong /sou³⁵/
Min Xiamen (Hokkien) /sɔ⁵³/
/siau²¹/
Fuzhou (Eastern Min) /sou²¹²/
Jian'ou (Northern Min) /su³³/
Shantou (Teochew) /siau²¹³/
Haikou (Hainanese) /tiau³⁵/
Rime
Character 數
Reading # 1/3
Initial (聲) 生 (21)
Final (韻) 虞 (24)
Tone (調) Rising (X)
Openness (開合) Closed
Division (等) III
Fanqie 所矩切
Baxter srjuX
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/ʃɨoX/
Pan
Wuyun 		/ʃioX/
Shao
Rongfen 		/ʃioX/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/ʂuə̆X/
Li
Rong 		/ʃioX/
Wang
Li 		/ʃĭuX/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/ʂi̯uX/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		shǔ
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		so2
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 數
Reading # 1/3
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		shǔ
Middle
Chinese 		‹ srjuX ›
Old
Chinese 		/*s-roʔ/
English count (v.)

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 數
Reading # 1/3
No. 8506
Phonetic
component 		婁
Rime
group 		侯
Rime
subdivision 		0
Corresponding
MC rime 		數
Old
Chinese 		/*sroʔ/

Definitions

數

  1. to count; to enumerate
    數銀仔／数银仔 [Cantonese]  ―  sou2 ngan4-2 zai2   ―  to count coins
  2. to be reckoned as
    數一數二／数一数二  ―  shǔyī shǔ'èr  ―  to be reckoned as first or second; to be one of the best
  3. to criticize; to find fault; to blame
    數落／数落  ―  shǔluò  ―  to criticize, to scold

Synonyms

  • (Malaysia, Singapore) 算 (suàn)

Compounds

Etymology 2

Exopassive derivation of Etymology 1 with suffix *-s, meaning "what is counted" (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation

Note: sù - Taiwan, only used in 數珠.
Note:
  • sṳ - “account; fate”.
Note:
  • sò͘ - literary;
  • siàu - vernacular (“account”).
Note:
  • siao3/siou3 - noun (siou3 - Chaozhou);
  • su3 - "several" and in 無數.
  • Dialectal data
Variety Location 數 (數量)
Mandarin Beijing /ʂu⁵¹/
Harbin /ʂu⁵³/
Tianjin /su⁵³/
Jinan /ʂu²¹/
Qingdao /ʂu⁴²/
Zhengzhou /ʂuo³¹²/
Xi'an /fu⁴⁴/
Xining /fv̩²¹³/
Yinchuan /su¹³/
Lanzhou /fu¹³/
Ürümqi /ʂu²¹³/
/fu²¹³/
Wuhan /səu³⁵/
Chengdu /su¹³/
Guiyang /su²¹³/
Kunming /su²¹²/
Nanjing /su⁴⁴/
Hefei /sʊ⁵³/
Jin Taiyuan /su⁴⁵/
Pingyao /sz̩ʷ³⁵/
Hohhot /su⁵⁵/
Wu Shanghai /su³⁵/
Suzhou /səu⁵¹³/
Hangzhou /su⁴⁴⁵/
Wenzhou /sɤu⁴²/
Hui Shexian /su³²⁴/
Tunxi /səu⁴²/
Xiang Changsha /səu⁵⁵/
Xiangtan /səɯ⁵⁵/
Gan Nanchang /su⁴⁵/
Hakka Meixian /su⁵³/
Taoyuan /su⁵⁵/
Cantonese Guangzhou /sou³³/
Nanning /su³³/
Hong Kong /sou³³/
Min Xiamen (Hokkien) /sɔ²¹/
/siau²¹/
Fuzhou (Eastern Min) /sou²¹²/
Jian'ou (Northern Min) /su³³/
Shantou (Teochew) /siau²¹³/
Haikou (Hainanese) /to³⁵/
/tiau³⁵/
Rime
Character 數
Reading # 2/3
Initial (聲) 生 (21)
Final (韻) 虞 (24)
Tone (調) Departing (H)
Openness (開合) Closed
Division (等) III
Fanqie 色句切
Baxter srjuH
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/ʃɨoH/
Pan
Wuyun 		/ʃioH/
Shao
Rongfen 		/ʃioH/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/ʂuə̆H/
Li
Rong 		/ʃioH/
Wang
Li 		/ʃĭuH/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/ʂi̯uH/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		shù
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		so3
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 數
Reading # 2/3
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		shù
Middle
Chinese 		‹ srjuH ›
Old
Chinese 		/*s-roʔ-s/
English number (n.)

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 數
Reading # 2/3
No. 8508
Phonetic
component 		婁
Rime
group 		侯
Rime
subdivision 		0
Corresponding
MC rime 		捒
Old
Chinese 		/*sros/

Definitions

數

  1. number; figure; amount (Classifier: 個／个; 粒 c)
    人數／人数  ―  rénshù  ―  population
  2. (mathematics) number
    整數／整数  ―  zhěngshù  ―  integer
  3. (grammar) number
    單數／单数  ―  dānshù  ―  singular
  4. several; few
    數百人／数百人  ―  shù bǎi rén  ―  several hundred people
  5. † mathematics; reckoning (one of the Six Arts)
  6. Short for 數學／数学 (shùxué, “mathematics”).
    中英數／中英数 [Cantonese]  ―  zung1 jing1 sou3   ―  Chinese, English and mathematics
  7. † divination
  8. † skill
  9. † law; rule; regular pattern
  10. † legal system
  11. fate; destiny
    氣數／气数  ―  qìshù  ―  fate
  12. (Cantonese, Hakka, Southern Min) account (Classifier: 條／条 c; 盤／盘 c)
    數簿／数簿 [Cantonese]  ―  sou3 bou6-2   ―  account book
    公數／公数 [Cantonese]  ―  gung1 sou3   ―  (please add an English translation of this usage example)
  13. (Cantonese) debt (Classifier: 筆／笔 c; 條／条 c)
    卡數／卡数 [Cantonese]  ―  kaat1 sou3   ―  credit card debt
  14. (Cantonese) sum of money (Classifier: 筆／笔 c; 嚿 c)
  15. (Cantonese) mathematical problem (Classifier: 條／条 c)

Compounds

Etymology 3

Derivation of Etymology 1, perhaps with distributive suffix *-k (Schuessler, 2007).

Pronunciation

Rime
Character 數
Reading # 3/3
Initial (聲) 生 (21)
Final (韻) 覺 (10)
Tone (調) Checked (Ø)
Openness (開合) Open
Division (等) II
Fanqie 所角切
Baxter sraewk
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang
Shangfang 		/ʃˠʌk̚/
Pan
Wuyun 		/ʃᵚɔk̚/
Shao
Rongfen 		/ʃɔk̚/
Edwin
Pulleyblank 		/ʂaɨwk̚/
Li
Rong 		/ʃɔk̚/
Wang
Li 		/ʃɔk̚/
Bernard
Karlgren 		/ʂɔk̚/
Expected
Mandarin
Reflex 		shuo
Expected
Cantonese
Reflex 		sok3
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character 數
Reading # 3/3
Modern
Beijing
(Pinyin) 		shuò
Middle
Chinese 		‹ sræwk ›
Old
Chinese 		/*s-rok/
English frequently

Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system:

* Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence;
* Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. * as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p;
* Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix;
* Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary;

* Period "." indicates syllable boundary.
Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character 數
Reading # 3/3
No. 8512
Phonetic
component 		婁
Rime
group 		屋
Rime
subdivision 		0
Corresponding
MC rime 		朔
Old
Chinese 		/*sroːɡ/

Definitions

數

  1. † frequently; repeatedly
    數見不鮮／数见不鲜  ―  shuòjiàn bùxiān  ―  a common occurrence

Compounds

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (數):
  • → Japanese: 数(すう) (sū)
  • → Korean: 수(數) (su)
  • → Vietnamese: số (數)

Etymology 4

Pronunciation

Definitions

數

  1. † fine and closely woven
    數罟／数罟  ―  cùgǔ  ―  closely woven net

Compounds

Japanese

Shinjitai

数

Kyūjitai

數

Kanji

數

(Hyōgai kanji, kyūjitai kanji, shinjitai form 数)

  1. count
  2. number

Readings

Korean

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 數 (MC srjuX|srjuH).

Historical readings

Recorded as Middle Korean 수 (swu)訓 (Yale: swu) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

“number; etc.”
From Middle Chinese 數 (MC srjuH).
Recorded as Middle Korean 숭〮 (Yale: swú) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.
“to count; to calculate”
From Middle Chinese 數 (MC srjuX).
Recorded as Middle Korean 슝〯 (Yale: syǔ) in Dongguk Jeongun (東國正韻 / 동국정운), 1448.

Pronunciation

  • (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA(key):
  • Phonetic hangul:
    • Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

Hanja

Korean Wikisource has texts containing the hanja:

Wikisource

數 (eumhun 셀 수 (sel su))
數 (eumhun 셈 수 (sem su))

  1. Hanja form? of 수 (“number; fixed quantity; figure”).
  2. Hanja form? of 수 (“to count; to calculate”).
  3. Hanja form? of 수 (“a little; a bit; a few; several”).
  4. Hanja form? of 수 (“manners”).
  5. Hanja form? of 수 (“grade”).
  6. Hanja form? of 수 (“obligation; duty”).
  7. Hanja form? of 수 (“fate; destiny”).
  8. Hanja form? of 수 (“skill; technique”).
  9. Hanja form? of 수 (“trick; scheme”).
  10. Hanja form? of 수 (“means; method”).

Compounds

Compounds

Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 數 (MC sraewk).

Historical readings

Pronunciation

Hanja

數 (eumhun 자주 삭 (jaju sak))

  1. (literary) hanja form? of 삭 (“often; frequently”)

Compounds

Compounds

Etymology 3

From Middle Chinese 數.

Historical readings

Pronunciation

Hanja

數 (eumhun 촘촘할 촉 (chomchomhal chok))

  1. (literary) hanja form? of 촉 (“dense; thick”)

Compounds

Compounds

References

  • 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

Vietnamese

Han character

數: Hán Việt readings: sác, số, sổ, xúc
數: Nôm readings: số, sổ, sỗ, sộ, xọ

  1. chữ Hán form of số (“number”).
Wikious
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