倒数

• Pinyin: dào shǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 倒 = reverse direction; 数 = 米 + 攵 (to count)

Meaning

To count backward; to count in reverse order. Also used as a modifier meaning last or bottom-ranked when counting from the end.

Used both as a verb (to count down from a number) and as a modifier in phrases like 倒数第一 (last place, literally counting-backward first). Very common in academic and competitive contexts to describe bottom rankings.

Examples

1. 老师让同学们从一百开始倒数，以此来练习专注力。 The teacher asked the students to count backward from one hundred as a way to practice concentration.
2. 他这次考试成绩倒数第二，父母对此十分担心。 He ranked second from the bottom on this exam, which made his parents very worried.
3. 春晚现场，全体观众一起倒数，迎接新年的到来。 At the Spring Festival Gala venue, the entire audience counted down together to welcome the arrival of the new year.

Usage Guide

Context: education, events, rankings

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 倒数第一名。(Last place.)
• 请大家一起倒数！(Everyone count down together!)

Don't Say

• 他倒数了 without a complement — specify 倒数三秒 or 倒数第几名 to give the statement concrete meaning

Origin & History

倒 (reverse) + 数 (to count). Together meaning to count in reverse order.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal