dì èr: 第二 - Second, Number Two

• Keywords: di er Chinese, 第二 meaning, how to say second in Chinese, ordinal numbers in Chinese, Chinese number two, what does di er mean, second in Mandarin, difference between er and liang, HSK 1 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn the essential Chinese term 第二 (dì èr), which means “second” or “number two.” This comprehensive guide explains how to use 第二 to create ordered lists, discuss rankings, and talk about sequences (e.g., “the second day,” “the second floor”). We'll break down the characters, explore practical examples, and clarify the crucial difference between using 第二 (for order) and 两 (liǎng) (for quantity), a common point of confusion for beginner learners.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dì èr
• Part of Speech: Ordinal Number
• HSK Level: HSK 1
• Concise Definition: It indicates the second position in a sequence or order.
• In a Nutshell: 第二 (dì èr) is how you say “the second” in Chinese. The character 第 (dì) is a magic prefix that you can place before any number to turn it from a simple count (like “two”) into an ordered rank (like “second”). So, while 二 (èr) means “two,” adding 第 (dì) in front of it transforms it into 第二 (dì èr), “the second”.

• 第 (dì): This character acts as a prefix to form ordinal numbers. Its original form may have depicted bamboo slips arranged in order. Think of it as the “-nd” in “2nd” or the “-rd” in “3rd”. It signals that you are talking about position in a sequence, not a quantity.
• 二 (èr): This is one of the simplest Chinese characters. The two horizontal lines literally represent the number “two”.

When combined, 第 (dì) + 二 (èr) creates a clear and logical meaning: “sequence + two,” which translates directly to “the second.”

While “second” doesn't carry the same deep philosophical weight as some Chinese concepts, its structure reveals a key aspect of the language: clarity and modularity. In English, we have distinct words for “two” and “second,” “three” and “third,” etc. In Chinese, the system is more systematic. You learn the prefix 第 (dì) once, and you can instantly create the ordinal version of any number you know:

• 一 (yī) → 第一 (dì yī) - First
• 二 (èr) → 第二 (dì èr) - Second
• 三 (sān) → 第三 (dì sān) - Third
• …and so on.

This pattern makes ordering things linguistically straightforward. Culturally, being 第二 (dì èr) can have similar connotations to being “number two” in the West. In a competition, it means being the runner-up (亚军, yàjūn), which can be a source of pride or a motivation to strive for first place. In a family, being the second child (老二, lǎo'èr) is simply a statement of birth order.

第二 (dì èr) is an everyday term used constantly in various contexts.

• Rankings and Competitions: Used to denote second place.
  • `他得了第二名。 (Tā déle dì èr míng.)` - He got second place.
• Sequencing and Lists: Essential for giving instructions, listing reasons, or telling stories in order.
  • `第一，我们要… 第二，我们应该… (Dì yī, wǒmen yào… Dì èr, wǒmen yīnggāi…)` - First, we need to… Second, we should…
• Dates and Time: Used for days, weeks, months, or occasions.
  • `这是我第二次来北京。 (Zhè shì wǒ dì èr cì lái Běijīng.)` - This is my second time coming to Beijing.
  • `二月 (èryuè)` is “February” (the second month), which is a notable exception where `第` is not used for months.
• Floors and Addresses: Used to specify floors in a building.
  • `他住在第二层。 (Tā zhù zài dì èr céng.)` - He lives on the second floor. (Often colloquially shortened to `二楼, èr lóu`).

• Example 1:
  • 请翻到课本第二页。
  • Pinyin: Qǐng fān dào kèběn dì èr yè.
  • English: Please turn to the second page of the textbook.
  • Analysis: A classic classroom instruction. 第二 clearly specifies which page number.
• Example 2:
  • 这是我人生中第二重要的决定。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì wǒ rénshēng zhōng dì èr zhòngyào de juédìng.
  • English: This is the second most important decision in my life.
  • Analysis: Here, 第二 is used to rank concepts by importance.
• Example 3:
  • 我们在第二个路口向右转。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen zài dì èr ge lùkǒu xiàng yòu zhuǎn.
  • English: We turn right at the second intersection.
  • Analysis: Used for giving directions, specifying which item in a sequence to act upon. Note the measure word `个 (ge)` is still needed.
• Example 4:
  • 她在比赛中获得了第二名。
  • Pinyin: Tā zài bǐsài zhōng huòdéle dì èr míng.
  • English: She won second place in the competition.
  • Analysis: `第二名 (dì èr míng)` is a fixed phrase for “second place.”
• Example 5:
  • 第二天，天气变好了。
  • Pinyin: Dì èr tiān, tiānqì biàn hǎo le.
  • English: The second day, the weather got better.
  • Analysis: A common way to sequence events in a narrative.
• Example 6:
  • 这部电影的第二部分比第一部分更精彩。
  • Pinyin: Zhè bù diànyǐng de dì èr bùfèn bǐ dì yī bùfèn gèng jīngcǎi.
  • English: The second part of this movie is more exciting than the first part.
  • Analysis: Shows how 第二 is used to talk about sections of a whole.
• Example 7:
  • 第二次世界大战是一段沉重的历史。
  • Pinyin: Dì èr cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn shì yīduàn chénzhòng de lìshǐ.
  • English: The Second World War is a heavy period of history.
  • Analysis: Used in formal names for historical events, like World War II.
• Example 8:
  • 我的办公室在第二教学楼。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de bàngōngshì zài dì èr jiàoxué lóu.
  • English: My office is in the second teaching building.
  • Analysis: Used to distinguish between multiple similar objects, like buildings on a campus.
• Example 9:
  • 这是菜单上的第二道菜。
  • Pinyin: Zhè shì càidān shàng de dì èr dào cài.
  • English: This is the second dish on the menu.
  • Analysis: Practical usage for ordering food or describing a meal course.
• Example 10:
  • 对我来说，家庭是第一位的，工作是第二位的。
  • Pinyin: Duì wǒ láishuō, jiātíng shì dì yī wèi de, gōngzuò shì dì èr wèi de.
  • English: For me, family is in first place, and work is in second place.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates ranking abstract priorities using `第一位 (dì yī wèi)` and `第二位 (dì èr wèi)`.

The single most common mistake for learners is confusing 第二 (dì èr) with 两 (liǎng). They both relate to the number two, but they are not interchangeable. Rule of Thumb:

• 第二 (dì èr) = Order (“the second”)
• 两 (liǎng) = Quantity (“two of something”)

Think of it this way: 第二 answers “Which one?”. 两 answers “How many?”. Common Pitfall 1: Using `第二` for quantity.

• Incorrect: 我有两个第二个苹果。 (Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge dì èr ge píngguǒ.)
• Why it's wrong: This literally means “I have two 'the second' apples,” which is nonsensical. You are describing a quantity, not a position.
• Correct: 我有两个苹果。 (Wǒ yǒu liǎng ge píngguǒ.) - I have two apples.

Common Pitfall 2: Using `二` or `两` for order.

• Incorrect: 这是我的两个儿子。 (When pointing to your second son).
• Why it's wrong: `两个儿子 (liǎng ge érzi)` means “two sons” (a quantity). If you want to specify he is the second one, you must indicate his position in the birth order.
• Correct: 这是我的第二个儿子。 (Zhè shì wǒ de dì èr ge érzi.) - This is my second son.
• Correct (colloquial): 这是我二儿子。 (Zhè shì wǒ èr érzi.) - In family contexts, `第` can sometimes be dropped.

Summary Table:

• 第一 (dì yī) - First, number one. The direct counterpart to `第二` and the beginning of any sequence.
• 第三 (dì sān) - Third, number three. Follows the same pattern, showing the system for all ordinal numbers.
• 两 (liǎng) - Two. A crucial term to differentiate from `第二`. It's used for counting quantities, not for ordering.
• 二 (èr) - Two. The cardinal number that `第二` is built upon. It's used in larger numbers (e.g., 十二, shí'èr, twelve) and phone numbers.
• 其次 (qícì) - Secondly, next. A more formal connector used in writing or speeches to introduce the second point.
• 次序 (cìxù) - Order, sequence. The abstract noun for the concept that `第` helps to express.
• 亚军 (yàjūn) - Runner-up, second place. A specific noun for the person or team that finishes second in a competition.
• 上次 (shàng cì) - Last time. A term for sequencing events in the past.
• 下次 (xià cì) - Next time. A term for sequencing events in the future.