Definitions
(particle)
prefix indicating ordinal numbers
(noun)
order; sequence
Etymology
Originally a variant of 弟 (younger brother), which originally meant "order".
About
The character "第", whose traditional form remains unchanged in structure, is composed of the bamboo radical (竹) atop the component for younger brother (弟), offering a clue to its original conceptual foundation. Its earliest core meaning was that of order or sequence, derived from the practice of using bamboo strips for record-keeping or tallying, which were often bound in a set sequence, while the "younger brother" element reinforced this sense of successive rank within a hierarchy. From this concrete notion of sequenced items, its application broadened to function primarily as a prefix for ordinal numbers, such as first or second, and by extension, it came to denote grades or levels, as in the ranking of successful examination candidates. Over centuries, its usage further expanded into more abstract social and architectural domains, signifying status, as in a residence of a high-ranking person, thereby maintaining its fundamental association with structured sequence while accruing these additional layers of meaning tied to hierarchy and classification.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这是我的第一次。
他得了第一名。
这是第二本书。
我今天第三次迟到。
她住在第五层楼。
这是我们第一次见面。
他排名第十，成绩不错。
尽管这是第一次尝试，但他做得很好。