Meaning
多数 means 'the majority' or 'most' and refers to the greater part or number of something. It can function as a noun (the majority) or as a determiner before nouns (most people, most cases). It's commonly used in both spoken and written Chinese to indicate that something applies to more than half or the larger portion of a group.
Usage
多数 is frequently used in statements about statistics, opinions, or general observations. In formal or written contexts, it often appears in constructions like '多数人认为...' (most people think...) or '在多数情况下' (in most cases). It's slightly more formal than simply saying '很多' (many) and specifically emphasizes the majority portion rather than just a large number.
Examples
- 01多数学生都同意这个建议。.Most students agree with this proposal.
- 02在多数情况下，早睡早起对健康有好处。, .In most cases, going to bed early and waking up early is good for your health.
Characters
Common collocations
- 多数人most people, the majority of people
- 多数情况most cases, most situations
- 占多数to constitute the majority
- 在多数情况下in most cases
Antonyms
Origin
The word combines 多 (many/much) with 数 (number), literally meaning 'the many number' or 'the greater count,' which evolved to mean 'majority.'