第
Character Story & Explanation
In imperial China (605–1905 CE), the civil service examinations ranked successful candidates into three grades: 第一甲 (First Rank), 第二甲 (Second Rank), and 第三甲 (Third Rank). Top scholars in 第一甲 received prestigious titles like 状元 (zhuàngyuán, 'top scholar'). This historical usage cemented 第 as the definitive marker of hierarchical placement—not just numerically, but socially and politically.
The character 第 evolved from seal script forms combining ⺮ (bamboo, indicating writing slips used for records) and 弟 (dì, 'younger brother', suggesting sequence and order). Though its earliest forms aren’t pictographic, the bamboo radical reflects its bureaucratic origin: official rankings were literally written on bamboo strips. Today, Chinese people use 第 constantly—to label subway lines (地铁1号线 → Line 1), list steps ('第一步'), or refer to generations ('第三代移民').
Hi students! The character 第 (dì) is a very important ordinal marker in Chinese—it means 'first', 'second', 'third', and so on. Unlike English, which uses separate words like 'first' or '2nd', Chinese always puts 第 before a number to show order: 第一 (dì yī) = 'first', 第二 (dì èr) = 'second'. It’s not a number itself, but a prefix that turns numbers into positions—like ranking in a race, floor numbers, or exam results.
This character appears early in learning because it’s essential for counting sequences, dates, addresses, and rankings. You’ll see it everywhere: on elevator buttons (第10层), in class schedules (第3节课), and even in sports commentary ('He finished 第五!'). Mastering 第 helps you understand structure and hierarchy in Chinese communication—not just numerically, but culturally too.
Don’t confuse 第 with other 'number-related' characters like 一 (yī) or 次 (cì). While 一 is the cardinal number 'one', and 次 means 'time' or 'occasion' (e.g., 第一次 = 'the first time'), 第 exclusively marks position in a fixed series. Its consistent placement—always before the number—and unchanging pronunciation (dì, never dī or dǐ) make it reliable once you practice writing and using it daily.
Example Sentences
Common Compounds
Similar Characters — Don't Mix These Up
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