第 dì

第（dì）means “(ordinal prefix) -th; No.”. 第 is placed before a number to form an ordinal, showing rank or sequence (第一 'first', 第三 'third'). Formation: 第 + 数词 (+ 量词 + 名)

(ordinal prefix) -th; No.

HSK2

Formation

第 + 数词 (+ 量词 + 名)

Explanation

第 is placed before a number to form an ordinal, showing rank or sequence (第一 'first', 第三 'third'). When a measure word or noun follows, it comes after the number: 第一次, 第三层. It turns a cardinal number into 'the nth'.

Examples

这是我第一次来中国。
zhè shì wǒ dì yī cì lái zhōngguó
This is my first time coming to China.
他住在第三层。
tā zhù zài dì sān céng
He lives on the third floor.

Note

The structure is 第 + number (+ measure + noun): 第三 + 层.

FAQ

第 — what does it mean and how is it used?

(ordinal prefix) -th; No.. 第 is placed before a number to form an ordinal, showing rank or sequence (第一 'first', 第三 'third'). When a measure word or noun follows, it comes after the number: 第一次, 第三层. It turns a cardinal number into 'the nth'.

第 — how do you form it?

第 + 数词 (+ 量词 + 名)

第 — any usage notes?

The structure is 第 + number (+ measure + noun): 第三 + 层.

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