Grammar Point:
In Chinese, ordinal numbers are formed by adding the word 第 dì before the cardinal number.
Structure
第 dì + Number
- 1st: 第一 dì yī
- 2nd:第二 dì èr
- 3rd:第三 dì sān
- 4th:第四 dì sì
- 5th:第五 dì wǔ
- 16th:第十六 dì shíliù
- 20th:第二十 dì èrshí
- 31th:第三十一 dì sānshíyī
第 dì + Number + Measure word + N
If you want to describe ordinal numbers with a noun, don’t forget to include a measure word in between.
第五瓶水第五瓶水
The fifth bottle of water
第六塊蛋糕第六块蛋糕
The sixth piece of cake
今天是我到台灣的第一天今天是我到台湾的第一天
Today is my first day in Taiwan.
我以前都聽不懂中文,但是第三個月後開始聽得懂了我以前都听不懂中文,但是第三个月后开始听得懂了
I used to not understand Chinese, but I started to understand it after the third month.
每個月第四週的星期五發薪水每个月第四周的星期五发工资
I get paid on the fourth Friday of every month.
很多學生學的第一句中文是「幹」很多学生学的第一句中文是「操」
The first sentence in Chinese that many students learn is “F*ck”
第 dì + Number + 名 míng
名 míng means “number” or “position.” It is used to express the ranking in Chinese.
第一名第一名
First place
第二名第二名
Second place
她這次考試考了全班第10名她这次考试考了全班第10名
She got the 10th place in the class for this exam.
2020的足球比賽德國拿到了第一名2020的足球比赛德国拿到了第一名
In the 2020 soccer competition, Germany took the first place.
Exception
Note that some nouns can form ordinals without the use of 第 dì. In such cases, the number can be used directly.
Date
1月1號1月1号
January 1st
3日3日
3rd (date)
Floor
5樓5楼
5th floor
12樓12楼
12th floor
Practice
TouchHover over the space to see the answers.
✔️ He said he is good at cooking, but it looks like his first time.
他說他很會做飯,但是看起來像是第一次做他说他很会做饭,但是看起来像是第一次做
✔️ It’s my first time eating such a terrible beef noodle.
我第一次吃到這麼可怕的牛肉麵我第一次吃到这么可怕的牛肉面
✔️ You’re not the first person to say that.
你不是第一個這麼說的人你不是第一个这么说的人