Usage of 万 (wàn): ten thousands or just a great number?How to ask girl for number?Explanation usage of 得 and 地What is the Mandarin term for great godparents?Usage: Spaces in ChineseReferences: north-eastern Mandarin: xier meaning 'great/awesome/excellent'“or” usage for choices兆 as (part of) a numberEncountered usage of 为也许 vs 或许 vs 可能 usage躲 vs 藏 usage in terms of objects and timing
Can someone publish a story that happened to you?
'It addicted me, with one taste.' Can 'addict' be used transitively?
As an international instructor, should I openly talk about my accent?
How to pronounce 'c++' in Spanish
Is Diceware more secure than a long passphrase?
How exactly does Hawking radiation decrease the mass of black holes?
Thesis on avalanche prediction using One Class SVM
What causes platform events to fail to be published and should I cater for failed platform event creations?
Is there a way to generate a list of distinct numbers such that no two subsets ever have an equal sum?
Why does nature favour the Laplacian?
Can an Area of Effect spell cast outside a Prismatic Wall extend inside it?
a sore throat vs a strep throat vs strep throat
How to have a sharp product image?
Why did C use the -> operator instead of reusing the . operator?
Was there a Viking Exchange as well as a Columbian one?
How could Tony Stark make this in Endgame?
How can I practically buy stocks?
How to not starve gigantic beasts
How do I reattach a shelf to the wall when it ripped out of the wall?
bldc motor, esc and battery draw, nominal vs peak
Extension of 2-adic valuation to the real numbers
What's the polite way to say "I need to urinate"?
Are there physical dangers to preparing a prepared piano?
Can I criticise the more senior developers around me for not writing clean code?
Usage of 万 (wàn): ten thousands or just a great number?
How to ask girl for number?Explanation usage of 得 and 地What is the Mandarin term for great godparents?Usage: Spaces in ChineseReferences: north-eastern Mandarin: xier meaning 'great/awesome/excellent'“or” usage for choices兆 as (part of) a numberEncountered usage of 为也许 vs 或许 vs 可能 usage躲 vs 藏 usage in terms of objects and timing
I noticed that very often the word 万 (wàn) occurs in poetry (e.g. poetry of the Tang dynasty). My dictionary reports its meaning as "ten thousands", but it looks like it's used in place of a generic "great number". A sentence I notice very frequently is "万里" (wàn lǐ): I feel like this is just a way to mean "a very long distance".
So, what is the proper meaning and usage of "万"? Is it correct to use it for "great", "enormous"? On the other side, to mean "huge", "great", is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
word-choice usage word
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
add a comment |
I noticed that very often the word 万 (wàn) occurs in poetry (e.g. poetry of the Tang dynasty). My dictionary reports its meaning as "ten thousands", but it looks like it's used in place of a generic "great number". A sentence I notice very frequently is "万里" (wàn lǐ): I feel like this is just a way to mean "a very long distance".
So, what is the proper meaning and usage of "万"? Is it correct to use it for "great", "enormous"? On the other side, to mean "huge", "great", is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
word-choice usage word
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
Fwiw, myriad—the English word for 10,000 as a single unit—worked exactly the same way in ancient Greek: as an actual number and as a handwavy reference to "too many to ever bother counting". It still has both meanings, but English as a system prefers to count in sets of three. Chinese simply kept the larger unit as well as its figurative sense.
– lly
3 hours ago
Also worth pointing out that 万, 千, and the rest can also be read as "myriads", "thousands", "thousands and thousands", etc. instead of as only singular units. Remembering that they can have that plural value can help understand their figurative uses faster and more intuitively.
– lly
3 hours ago
add a comment |
I noticed that very often the word 万 (wàn) occurs in poetry (e.g. poetry of the Tang dynasty). My dictionary reports its meaning as "ten thousands", but it looks like it's used in place of a generic "great number". A sentence I notice very frequently is "万里" (wàn lǐ): I feel like this is just a way to mean "a very long distance".
So, what is the proper meaning and usage of "万"? Is it correct to use it for "great", "enormous"? On the other side, to mean "huge", "great", is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
word-choice usage word
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
I noticed that very often the word 万 (wàn) occurs in poetry (e.g. poetry of the Tang dynasty). My dictionary reports its meaning as "ten thousands", but it looks like it's used in place of a generic "great number". A sentence I notice very frequently is "万里" (wàn lǐ): I feel like this is just a way to mean "a very long distance".
So, what is the proper meaning and usage of "万"? Is it correct to use it for "great", "enormous"? On the other side, to mean "huge", "great", is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
word-choice usage word
word-choice usage word
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
asked 15 hours ago
Starnuto di topoStarnuto di topo
591418
591418
Fwiw, myriad—the English word for 10,000 as a single unit—worked exactly the same way in ancient Greek: as an actual number and as a handwavy reference to "too many to ever bother counting". It still has both meanings, but English as a system prefers to count in sets of three. Chinese simply kept the larger unit as well as its figurative sense.
– lly
3 hours ago
Also worth pointing out that 万, 千, and the rest can also be read as "myriads", "thousands", "thousands and thousands", etc. instead of as only singular units. Remembering that they can have that plural value can help understand their figurative uses faster and more intuitively.
– lly
3 hours ago
add a comment |
Fwiw, myriad—the English word for 10,000 as a single unit—worked exactly the same way in ancient Greek: as an actual number and as a handwavy reference to "too many to ever bother counting". It still has both meanings, but English as a system prefers to count in sets of three. Chinese simply kept the larger unit as well as its figurative sense.
– lly
3 hours ago
Also worth pointing out that 万, 千, and the rest can also be read as "myriads", "thousands", "thousands and thousands", etc. instead of as only singular units. Remembering that they can have that plural value can help understand their figurative uses faster and more intuitively.
– lly
3 hours ago
Fwiw, myriad—the English word for 10,000 as a single unit—worked exactly the same way in ancient Greek: as an actual number and as a handwavy reference to "too many to ever bother counting". It still has both meanings, but English as a system prefers to count in sets of three. Chinese simply kept the larger unit as well as its figurative sense.
– lly
3 hours ago
Fwiw, myriad—the English word for 10,000 as a single unit—worked exactly the same way in ancient Greek: as an actual number and as a handwavy reference to "too many to ever bother counting". It still has both meanings, but English as a system prefers to count in sets of three. Chinese simply kept the larger unit as well as its figurative sense.
– lly
3 hours ago
Also worth pointing out that 万, 千, and the rest can also be read as "myriads", "thousands", "thousands and thousands", etc. instead of as only singular units. Remembering that they can have that plural value can help understand their figurative uses faster and more intuitively.
– lly
3 hours ago
Also worth pointing out that 万, 千, and the rest can also be read as "myriads", "thousands", "thousands and thousands", etc. instead of as only singular units. Remembering that they can have that plural value can help understand their figurative uses faster and more intuitively.
– lly
3 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
You are correct, 万, 千 and 百 literally mean 10000, 1000 and 100. These words are often used as a figurative number for 'great', 'huge' or 'immense'
For example:
万人空巷 doesn't literally mean ten thousand people spilling out to the streets. 万人 means 'great number of people'
万水千山 doesn't literally mean ten thousand bodies of water and one thousand mountains. 万水千山 means many, many mountains and bodies of water = "immense distance"
千锤百炼 doesn't literally mean hammer one thousand times and temper one hundred times. 千锤百炼 means "extendedly forged"
Other numbers like 六, 九, 十 are often used metaphorically for 'all, entire, ultimate' too.
For example:
六軍(whole army)，九阴九阳(extreme/ ultimate yin and extreme/ ultimate yang), 十全十美 (perfect)
万, 千 and 百 are not figurative number, when they are with actual numbers. 一万, 二千 and 三百 can only mean 10000, 2000 and 300
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
add a comment |
see bkrs https://bkrs.info/slovo.php?ch=%E4%B8%87, iciba http://www.iciba.com/%E4%B8%87 for 万，used in fixed expressions: 万民,万国博览会 (world's fair),万事万物,万难(e.g.推辞),(extremely),万不可说,万能(omnipotent),天地万物,There is no god but God: 万物非主，唯有真主,
, 。。。万岁！long live 。。。！Jp. “Banzai!” e.g.全世界人民大团结万岁!毛主席万岁，万万岁！
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
add a comment |
"萬" is explained by other, for your query:
is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
well, in ancient times, "億" & "兆" were used.
the modern explanation of these two are, mathematically:
億: 100,000,000
兆: 100,000,000,000
certain usages:
尚書 呂刑
一人有慶．兆民賴之
"兆民" means "all people".
梁書 列傳第三十九
立我蕭宗．重興我梁國．億兆黎庶．咸蒙此恩
"億兆黎庶", in which "億兆" literally means hundred of million (億) of hundred of billion (兆). well, just shortcut it into "all people"
if you can read literary chinese, there're many similar usages.
the bottom line is, "千" (1,000), or "萬" (10,000) is very humble "great number", in chinese language.
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "371"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchinese.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f33774%2fusage-of-%25e4%25b8%2587-w%25c3%25a0n-ten-thousands-or-just-a-great-number%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
You are correct, 万, 千 and 百 literally mean 10000, 1000 and 100. These words are often used as a figurative number for 'great', 'huge' or 'immense'
For example:
万人空巷 doesn't literally mean ten thousand people spilling out to the streets. 万人 means 'great number of people'
万水千山 doesn't literally mean ten thousand bodies of water and one thousand mountains. 万水千山 means many, many mountains and bodies of water = "immense distance"
千锤百炼 doesn't literally mean hammer one thousand times and temper one hundred times. 千锤百炼 means "extendedly forged"
Other numbers like 六, 九, 十 are often used metaphorically for 'all, entire, ultimate' too.
For example:
六軍(whole army)，九阴九阳(extreme/ ultimate yin and extreme/ ultimate yang), 十全十美 (perfect)
万, 千 and 百 are not figurative number, when they are with actual numbers. 一万, 二千 and 三百 can only mean 10000, 2000 and 300
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
add a comment |
You are correct, 万, 千 and 百 literally mean 10000, 1000 and 100. These words are often used as a figurative number for 'great', 'huge' or 'immense'
For example:
万人空巷 doesn't literally mean ten thousand people spilling out to the streets. 万人 means 'great number of people'
万水千山 doesn't literally mean ten thousand bodies of water and one thousand mountains. 万水千山 means many, many mountains and bodies of water = "immense distance"
千锤百炼 doesn't literally mean hammer one thousand times and temper one hundred times. 千锤百炼 means "extendedly forged"
Other numbers like 六, 九, 十 are often used metaphorically for 'all, entire, ultimate' too.
For example:
六軍(whole army)，九阴九阳(extreme/ ultimate yin and extreme/ ultimate yang), 十全十美 (perfect)
万, 千 and 百 are not figurative number, when they are with actual numbers. 一万, 二千 and 三百 can only mean 10000, 2000 and 300
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
add a comment |
You are correct, 万, 千 and 百 literally mean 10000, 1000 and 100. These words are often used as a figurative number for 'great', 'huge' or 'immense'
For example:
万人空巷 doesn't literally mean ten thousand people spilling out to the streets. 万人 means 'great number of people'
万水千山 doesn't literally mean ten thousand bodies of water and one thousand mountains. 万水千山 means many, many mountains and bodies of water = "immense distance"
千锤百炼 doesn't literally mean hammer one thousand times and temper one hundred times. 千锤百炼 means "extendedly forged"
Other numbers like 六, 九, 十 are often used metaphorically for 'all, entire, ultimate' too.
For example:
六軍(whole army)，九阴九阳(extreme/ ultimate yin and extreme/ ultimate yang), 十全十美 (perfect)
万, 千 and 百 are not figurative number, when they are with actual numbers. 一万, 二千 and 三百 can only mean 10000, 2000 and 300
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
You are correct, 万, 千 and 百 literally mean 10000, 1000 and 100. These words are often used as a figurative number for 'great', 'huge' or 'immense'
For example:
万人空巷 doesn't literally mean ten thousand people spilling out to the streets. 万人 means 'great number of people'
万水千山 doesn't literally mean ten thousand bodies of water and one thousand mountains. 万水千山 means many, many mountains and bodies of water = "immense distance"
千锤百炼 doesn't literally mean hammer one thousand times and temper one hundred times. 千锤百炼 means "extendedly forged"
Other numbers like 六, 九, 十 are often used metaphorically for 'all, entire, ultimate' too.
For example:
六軍(whole army)，九阴九阳(extreme/ ultimate yin and extreme/ ultimate yang), 十全十美 (perfect)
万, 千 and 百 are not figurative number, when they are with actual numbers. 一万, 二千 and 三百 can only mean 10000, 2000 and 300
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
edited 11 hours ago
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
answered 14 hours ago
Tang HoTang Ho
30.8k1741
30.8k1741
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
add a comment |
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
An interesting coincidence: the English word "myriad" also means both "ten thousand" and "a large number", and comes from a Greek word that also has those two meanings.
– Monty Harder
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六，九，and十are not figurative numbers. Traditionally, armies were actually divided into 6 components. Nine has certain significance within Ancient Chinese philosophy, which is why it is there. Ten here actually means 100 percent.
– H Huang
5 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
六軍不發無奈何 in 長恨歌 meant the entire army not six armies; 十面埋伏 means all side, not ten sides
– Tang Ho
2 hours ago
add a comment |
see bkrs https://bkrs.info/slovo.php?ch=%E4%B8%87, iciba http://www.iciba.com/%E4%B8%87 for 万，used in fixed expressions: 万民,万国博览会 (world's fair),万事万物,万难(e.g.推辞),(extremely),万不可说,万能(omnipotent),天地万物,There is no god but God: 万物非主，唯有真主,
, 。。。万岁！long live 。。。！Jp. “Banzai!” e.g.全世界人民大团结万岁!毛主席万岁，万万岁！
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
add a comment |
see bkrs https://bkrs.info/slovo.php?ch=%E4%B8%87, iciba http://www.iciba.com/%E4%B8%87 for 万，used in fixed expressions: 万民,万国博览会 (world's fair),万事万物,万难(e.g.推辞),(extremely),万不可说,万能(omnipotent),天地万物,There is no god but God: 万物非主，唯有真主,
, 。。。万岁！long live 。。。！Jp. “Banzai!” e.g.全世界人民大团结万岁!毛主席万岁，万万岁！
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
add a comment |
see bkrs https://bkrs.info/slovo.php?ch=%E4%B8%87, iciba http://www.iciba.com/%E4%B8%87 for 万，used in fixed expressions: 万民,万国博览会 (world's fair),万事万物,万难(e.g.推辞),(extremely),万不可说,万能(omnipotent),天地万物,There is no god but God: 万物非主，唯有真主,
, 。。。万岁！long live 。。。！Jp. “Banzai!” e.g.全世界人民大团结万岁!毛主席万岁，万万岁！
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
see bkrs https://bkrs.info/slovo.php?ch=%E4%B8%87, iciba http://www.iciba.com/%E4%B8%87 for 万，used in fixed expressions: 万民,万国博览会 (world's fair),万事万物,万难(e.g.推辞),(extremely),万不可说,万能(omnipotent),天地万物,There is no god but God: 万物非主，唯有真主,
, 。。。万岁！long live 。。。！Jp. “Banzai!” e.g.全世界人民大团结万岁!毛主席万岁，万万岁！
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
answered 14 hours ago
user6065user6065
1,8131510
1,8131510
add a comment |
add a comment |
"萬" is explained by other, for your query:
is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
well, in ancient times, "億" & "兆" were used.
the modern explanation of these two are, mathematically:
億: 100,000,000
兆: 100,000,000,000
certain usages:
尚書 呂刑
一人有慶．兆民賴之
"兆民" means "all people".
梁書 列傳第三十九
立我蕭宗．重興我梁國．億兆黎庶．咸蒙此恩
"億兆黎庶", in which "億兆" literally means hundred of million (億) of hundred of billion (兆). well, just shortcut it into "all people"
if you can read literary chinese, there're many similar usages.
the bottom line is, "千" (1,000), or "萬" (10,000) is very humble "great number", in chinese language.
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
add a comment |
"萬" is explained by other, for your query:
is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
well, in ancient times, "億" & "兆" were used.
the modern explanation of these two are, mathematically:
億: 100,000,000
兆: 100,000,000,000
certain usages:
尚書 呂刑
一人有慶．兆民賴之
"兆民" means "all people".
梁書 列傳第三十九
立我蕭宗．重興我梁國．億兆黎庶．咸蒙此恩
"億兆黎庶", in which "億兆" literally means hundred of million (億) of hundred of billion (兆). well, just shortcut it into "all people"
if you can read literary chinese, there're many similar usages.
the bottom line is, "千" (1,000), or "萬" (10,000) is very humble "great number", in chinese language.
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
add a comment |
"萬" is explained by other, for your query:
is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
well, in ancient times, "億" & "兆" were used.
the modern explanation of these two are, mathematically:
億: 100,000,000
兆: 100,000,000,000
certain usages:
尚書 呂刑
一人有慶．兆民賴之
"兆民" means "all people".
梁書 列傳第三十九
立我蕭宗．重興我梁國．億兆黎庶．咸蒙此恩
"億兆黎庶", in which "億兆" literally means hundred of million (億) of hundred of billion (兆). well, just shortcut it into "all people"
if you can read literary chinese, there're many similar usages.
the bottom line is, "千" (1,000), or "萬" (10,000) is very humble "great number", in chinese language.
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
"萬" is explained by other, for your query:
is it correct to use "万", 10000, and not something else (maybe even numerically bigger), like, "one million", "one billion"?
well, in ancient times, "億" & "兆" were used.
the modern explanation of these two are, mathematically:
億: 100,000,000
兆: 100,000,000,000
certain usages:
尚書 呂刑
一人有慶．兆民賴之
"兆民" means "all people".
梁書 列傳第三十九
立我蕭宗．重興我梁國．億兆黎庶．咸蒙此恩
"億兆黎庶", in which "億兆" literally means hundred of million (億) of hundred of billion (兆). well, just shortcut it into "all people"
if you can read literary chinese, there're many similar usages.
the bottom line is, "千" (1,000), or "萬" (10,000) is very humble "great number", in chinese language.
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
answered 7 hours ago
水巷孑蠻水巷孑蠻
7,4171621
7,4171621
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to Chinese Language Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fchinese.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f33774%2fusage-of-%25e4%25b8%2587-w%25c3%25a0n-ten-thousands-or-just-a-great-number%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Fwiw, myriad—the English word for 10,000 as a single unit—worked exactly the same way in ancient Greek: as an actual number and as a handwavy reference to "too many to ever bother counting". It still has both meanings, but English as a system prefers to count in sets of three. Chinese simply kept the larger unit as well as its figurative sense.
– lly
3 hours ago
Also worth pointing out that 万, 千, and the rest can also be read as "myriads", "thousands", "thousands and thousands", etc. instead of as only singular units. Remembering that they can have that plural value can help understand their figurative uses faster and more intuitively.
– lly
3 hours ago