算

• Pinyin: suàn
• Hanzi breakdown: 算 = 竹 (bamboo) + 目 (eye) + 廾 (two hands), calculating with bamboo counting sticks

Meaning

To calculate; to count; to consider. To work out a number or to regard something as.

A versatile verb with multiple uses: (1) to calculate/compute (算数学题), (2) to consider/regard as (他算是我的朋友 he can be considered my friend), (3) to count as/qualify (这不算难 this doesn't count as hard). Also appears in 打算 (to plan) and 算了 (forget it/never mind).

Examples

1. 你帮我算一下这道题。 Help me calculate this problem.
2. 今天一共花了多少钱，你算算。 Calculate how much money we spent in total today.
3. 他也算是我的朋友。 He can also be considered a friend of mine.

Usage Guide

Context: mathematics, everyday reasoning, evaluation

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 让我算算一共多少钱。(Let me calculate the total cost.)
• 这不算难，你试试看。(This isn't considered difficult, give it a try.)

Don't Say

• 不要把算和数混淆 (Don't confuse 算 and 数 — 算 means to calculate or figure out, while 数 shǔ means to count items one by one)

Origin & History

Composed of 竹 (bamboo) on top + 目 (eye) + 廾 (two hands) below. Depicts a person using bamboo counting sticks with both hands, the ancient Chinese method of calculation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal