Chinese word

指数

Pronunciation

Pinyinzhǐ shù

Meaning

  • nounindex

Example

这个月的物价指数又上升了。zhè ge yuè de wù jià zhǐ shù yòu shàng shēng le

The price index rose again this month.

Illustration for 指数 (index)

More examples

股票指数今天收盘下跌了。gǔ piào zhǐ shù jīn tiān shōu pán xià diē le

The stock index fell at the close today.

Core concept

A compact number that uses a chosen base to show change or repeated multiplication.

Common phrases

  • 物价指数wù jià zhǐ shù

    price index

  • 消费者物价指数xiāo fèi zhě wù jià zhǐ shù

    consumer price index

  • 股票指数gǔ piào zhǐ shù

    stock index

Similar words

指标zhǐ biāo: A stated standard or item used to judge or compare something.
数值shù zhí: A specific numerical amount obtained from observation or calculation.
增长率zēng zhǎng lǜ: A percentage showing how much something increases over a set period.
同比tóng bǐ: A measure of change found by comparing a value with the same period a year earlier.

Definition in Chinese

表示某一量相对变化的比率或系列，通过选定基期或基准把复杂信息浓缩为便于比较的数值。biǎo shì mǒu yí liàng xiāng duì biàn huà de bǐ lǜ huò xì liè tōng guò xuǎn dìng jī qī huò jī zhǔn bǎ fù zá xìn xī nóng suō wèi biàn yú bǐ jiào de shù zhí

Word origin

指数 (zhǐshù, "index/exponent") combines 指 (zhǐ, "point") + 数 (shù, "number"), giving the idea of a number that points to a comparison or a numerical operation.

Usage tips

  • For economic figures, the base period is essential: 100 is the usual starting point, so 120 means 20 percent above that base, not necessarily 20 percent more than the previous month.

Other meanings

  • exponentnoun

Related words

  • 指数函数zhǐ shù hán shùexponential functionnoun
  • 指数增长zhǐ shù zēng zhǎnggrow exponentiallyverb
  • 指数运算zhǐ shù yùn suànexponentiationnoun

Word lists with this word