dì

第

Character · Prefix · Noun · Proper noun · Conjunction · Adverb

ordinal prefix; official rank; mansion; but

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

6 senses · 13 examples
1.

prefix

ordinal marker before whole numbers

formal

Standard, formal prefix used for numbering sequences, e.g., ranking, lists, or addresses.

Zhè这
shì是
wǒ我
dì第
yī一
cì次
lái来
běi北
jīng京
 。

This is my first time coming to Beijing.

Tā他
zài在
bǐ比
sài赛
zhōng中
huò获
dé得
le了
dì第
wǔ五
míng名
 。

He won fifth place in the competition.

Show 3 more examples
Dì第
sān三
dān单
yuán元
de的
kè课
wén文
hěn很
yǒu有
qù趣
 。

The texts in Unit 3 are very interesting.

Qǐng请
zuò坐
dì第
shí十
pái排
de的
dì第
sān三
gè个
zuò座
wèi位
 。

Please take the third seat in the tenth row.

Wǒ我
zhù住
zài在
dì第
èr二
shí十
jiǔ九
céng层
lóu楼
 。

I live on the 29th floor.

2.

noun

imperial civil service exam rank; official standing

literary

Literary term referring to the grading or ranking of successful imperial examination candidates, now only used in fixed historical phrases.

Tā他
hán寒
chuāng窗
kǔ苦
dú读
shí十
nián年
 ,
zhōng终
yú于
jí及
dì第
 。

After ten years of hard study, he finally passed the imperial exam.

Tā他
lǚ屡
shì试
bù不
zhòng中
 ,
zuì最
zhōng终
luò落
dì第
fǎn返
xiāng乡
 。

He failed the imperial exam repeatedly and finally returned home after failing for the last time.

Show 1 more example
Bù不
dì第
zhě者
duō多
huì会
xuǎn选
zé择
huí回
xiāng乡
wù务
nóng农
 。

Most who failed the exam would choose to return to their hometowns to farm.

3.

proper noun

surname Di

A relatively rare Chinese family name.

Dì第
jiào教
shòu授
jīn今
tiān天
yào要
gěi给
wǒ我
men们
shàng上
kè课
 。

Professor Di will give us a lecture today.

4.

noun

feudal official's mansion; residence

literary

Refers to large, formal residences of high-ranking feudal officials, now used in historical or fixed compound words.

Zhè这
zuò座
gǔ古
zhái宅
céng曾
jīng经
shì是
yī一
wèi位
jìn进
shì士
de的
fǔ府
dì第
 。

This ancient mansion used to be the residence of a successful imperial exam candidate.

Zhè这
tiáo条
jiē街
shàng上
yǒu有
hěn很
duō多
míng明
qīng清
shí时
qī期
de的
zhái宅
dì第
 。

There are many official residences from the Ming and Qing dynasties on this street.

5.

conjunction

but; however

literary

Literary formal conjunction used to connect contrasting clauses, now rarely used in modern spoken Chinese.

Qí其
mào貌
bù不
yáng扬
 ,
dì第
cái才
xué学
guò过
rén人
 。

He is plain-looking, but he has exceptional talent and learning.

6.

adverb

only; merely; just

literary

Literary formal adverb used to limit scope, now rarely used in modern spoken Chinese.

Dì第
qiú求
píng平
ān安
zú足
yǐ矣
 。

I only ask for peace and safety, that is enough.