数
Character learning workspace

shǔ / shù / shuò · count, number, several

Master the form, understand its parts, and learn how it behaves in real Chinese.

HSK 2.0 · Level 6HSK 3.0 · Level 4Frequency #852
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Learn every stroke in 数

Replay the complete order, pause on difficult movements, inspect one stroke at a time, then write it yourself with live correction.

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Stroke graphics: Make Me a Hanzi / Arphic Public License
Sound changes meaning

Readings & meanings

数 has 3 dictionary pronunciations. The examples show how each reading behaves in real words.

shǔ

to count; to count as; to regard as; to enumerate

倒数dào shǔ · to count backwards
shù

number; figure; several; a few

数学shù xué · mathematics
shuò

(literary) frequently; repeatedly

Step-by-step explorer

See how 数 is constructed

Switch between the accumulated form and the isolated movement of each stroke.

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Writing notes

Shape and proportion

13Total strokes

Count each continuous pen movement once, including turns and hooks.

Left-rightCharacter structure

Keep the left side compact and leave enough room for the right side.

攵Key radical

Use the highlighted radical in the animation as a visual anchor for remembering the form.

Print and practise

Download a 数 writing sheet

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Includes the stroke sequence, progressive tracing, and blank writing squares. Generated locally in your browser.

Vocabulary in context

Common words with 数

Open a word for its full breakdown, or listen before reading the meaning.

shùnumber; figure; several; a few
shuWords pronounced shu
shǔto count; to count as; to regard as; to enumerate
Read and listen

Example sentences

Notice where 数 sits in each complete thought.

Tā de shù xué hěn bù hǎo.他的数学很不好。

He is terrible at math.

Source: Tatoeba #8839846 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā suì shù hé nǐ chà bù duō.他岁数和你差不多。

He's about the same age as you are.

Source: Tatoeba #416928 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā shì dàoshǔ dì sān gè dào de.他是倒数第三个到的。

He was the last but two to arrive.

Source: Tatoeba #787210 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Zhè lǐ de shù dà duō shù dōu shì guǒ shù.这里的树大多数都是果树。

Most of the trees here are fruit trees.

Source: Tatoeba #9423261 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Tā dé dào le bǐ wǒ men hái gāo de fēn shù.他得到了比我们还高的分数。

He got a better score than us.

Source: Tatoeba #402781 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Chū guó de rén shù yì zhí zài zēng jiā.出国的人数一直在增加。

The number of people who go abroad has been increasing.

Source: Tatoeba #1394883 · CC BY 2.0 FR
Turn reference into recall

How to study 数 in context

  1. Say shǔ / shù / shuò, then recall the core meaning: count, number, several.
  2. Write all 13 strokes while keeping the left-right balanced.
  3. Use it in 数学 (shù xué), meaning “mathematics”.
  4. Read the complete sentence aloud once, then cover the translation and explain how 数 works in that context.

Definitions and traditional forms are compiled from Make Me a Hanzi, HSK curriculum data, and CC-CEDICT. Sourced example sentences link to Tatoeba; editorial examples are labeled separately. Review data sources and licenses.