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numeral (ordinal) HSK 2
dì wǔ
fifth · number five (in a sequence)

Meaning

第五 is an ordinal number meaning 'fifth' or 'number five' in a sequence. The character 第 (dì) is a prefix that converts cardinal numbers into ordinal numbers, while 五 (wǔ) means 'five'. Together they indicate position or rank in an ordered series.

Usage

Used when indicating fifth position in any sequence: floors, dates, rankings, chapters, etc. In dates, 第五 can mean 'the fifth (day)' but 五号 (wǔ hào) is more common for calendar dates. Common in academic contexts (第五章 'Chapter 5'), rankings (第五名 'fifth place'), and listing items.

Examples

  1. 01
    他在比赛中得了第五名。
    Tā zài bǐsài zhōng dé le dì wǔ míng.
    He came in fifth place in the competition.
  2. 02
    我们的教室在第五层。
    Wǒmen de jiàoshì zài dì wǔ céng.
    Our classroom is on the fifth floor.

Characters

Common collocations

  • 第五名
    dì wǔ míng
    fifth place
  • 第五章
    dì wǔ zhāng
    Chapter 5
  • 第五层
    dì wǔ céng
    fifth floor
  • 第五个
    dì wǔ gè
    the fifth one

Origin

第 originally meant 'order' or 'sequence' in Classical Chinese and evolved into the standard ordinal number prefix in Modern Mandarin.

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