第
第 (dì) means “ordinal prefix (first, second…)”. It is made of ⺮ + 弟 and has 11 strokes, and is an HSK 1 word.
Break 第 into its parts
What 第 is made of
- ⺮ zhú — bamboo
- 弟 dì — young brother
Origin hint: Bamboo strips ⺮ arrayed in sequence; 弟 provides the pronunciation (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
Example sentences
他是第一个来的。Tā shì dì-yī gè lái de.He was the first to arrive.
我们今天学第三课。Wǒmen jīntiān xué dì-sān kè.Today we're studying Lesson 3.
Also built with ⺮
Quick facts
| Pinyin | dì |
|---|---|
| Meaning | ordinal prefix (first, second…) |
| Strokes | 11 |
| Radical | 竹 (bamboo, #118) |
| Pattern | Top–bottom |
| HSK | HSK 3.0 · Level 1 |
Questions about 第
What does 第 mean?
第 (dì) means “ordinal prefix (first, second…)”.
How many strokes does 第 have?
第 has 11 strokes.
What is the radical of 第?
The radical of 第 is 竹 (zhú, “bamboo”), Kangxi radical number 118.
What parts make up 第?
第 is made of ⺮ (bamboo) and 弟 (young brother).
Which HSK level is 第?
第 is in HSK 3.0 · Level 1.
Learn 第 with its group
It is part of HSK 1 · Group 31: 10 words with quick checks and spaced repeats.