Definitions
(numeral)
seven; 7
Etymology
Depicts two lines crossing. Based on the original meaning "cut", now written as 切. The current meaning is a phonetic loan.
About
The character "七", meaning "seven", has an origin that diverges from its modern numerical function, as it was initially a pictograph representing "to cut" horizontally, a meaning later entirely ceded to the character "切" which incorporates "七" as a phonetic component. Its early form, a simple cross, was altered during clerical script standardization to avoid confusion with the numeral "十" (ten) by giving its vertical stroke a pronounced hook. This structural modification solidified the visual distinction between the two numbers, and the character's meaning became exclusively numerical, a specialization it has maintained through its use in both traditional and simplified orthographies.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我有七个苹果。
一个星期有七天。
七月是我的生日。
他七点起床。
这本书有七十页。
我们七个人一起去。
她花了七个小时完成作业。
在第七章，作者解释了这个问题。