Chinese Conversation · Level 41
90 words
Chinese word
算
Pronunciation
Pinyinsuàn
Meaning
- verbcalculate
Example
请把价钱算一下。qǐng bǎ jià qián suàn yí xià
Please work out the price.
More examples
他把数字算错了。tā bǎ shù zì suàn cuò le
He calculated the numbers incorrectly.
Core concept
It applies a rule or measure to settle how much something amounts to or how it should be treated.
Common phrases
算一下suàn yí xià
calculate
算错suàn cuò
miscalculate
Similar words
计算jì suàn: Work out an answer or sum with numbers or a stated method.
认为rèn wéi: Regard something in a particular way after forming a judgment from ideas or evidence.
估计gū jì: Predict roughly from incomplete or uncertain information.
算作suàn zuò: Include something in a certain type or treat it as having a certain status.
Definition in Chinese
把事物按一定标准估算、判断或视为某种情况，也可以指具体的计算或勘定。bǎ shì wù àn yí dìng biāo zhǔn gū suàn pàn duàn huò shì wéi móu zhǒng qíng kuàng yě ké yǐ zhǐ jù tǐ de jì suàn huò kān dìng
Word origin
算 (suàn, "calculate") began with counting on bamboo tools, then grew to cover working out an answer and deciding how something is treated.
Usage tips
- English speakers may expect 算 (suàn, "calculate") to involve numbers, but it can also show that a person or thing counts in a decision.