DICTIONARY · CC-CEDICT

倒數

简倒数 · 繁倒數

Mandarin · pinyin dào shǔ#

to count backwards (from 10 down to 0)
to count down
from the bottom (lines on a page)
from the back (rows of seats)

Mandarin · pinyin dào shù#

inverse number
reciprocal (math.)

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Characters in this entry

倒: dào · fall over; lie down; take turns
數: shù · number; several; count; fate
数: shù · number; several, count; fate

Written characters and their own readings; the entry’s pronunciation is shown above.

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Mandarin tones

4–3 · dao4 shu3

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Read this spelling in Classical texts

Follow a written form into the eight pinned witnesses: Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Zhuangzi, Xunzi, Han Feizi, Sunzi and the Mao Shijing. A match is a place to investigate; it does not prove that a modern dictionary sense fits the passage.

倒數 · find source passages ↗ · 倒数 · find source passages ↗

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Compare dictionary sources Wiktionary · 5 senses · 1 Cantonese reading

Rime Cantonese 粵拼

dou3 sou2

Cantonese word readings for 倒數. This lexicon supplies readings, not definitions.

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Wiktionary English definitions · Chinese section

Independent source senses for this spelling, with usage labels retained. Not matched to the pronunciation above.

verb · Etymology 1

to count down
to count backwards; to rank from the end of a list (often modifies an ordinal number)

noun · Etymology 2

(mathematics) reciprocal; inverse

verb · Etymology 3

(Hokkien) to not repay a debt

noun · Etymology 3

(Hokkien) bad debt

Source page · dump 2026-09-02 · Contributors & history

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