Definition
倒数 (dào shǔ) has two distinct meanings: counting down time (e.g., from 10 to 0) and counting from the bottom in a ranking (e.g., third from last). Its sibling 倒计时 (dào jì shí) is used only for the time countdown sense, especially for formal countdowns like New Year's Eve. Use 倒数 when you need the ranking sense; for time countdowns, both work but 倒计时 is more specific.
verb
to count down (time)to count from the bottom (position/ranking)
Examples
- 倒数。Dàjiā kāishǐ dào shǔ shí miǎo.Everyone starts counting down ten seconds.
- 倒数。Tā de chéngjì zài bān lǐ dào shǔ dì-sān.His grade is third from the bottom in the class.
- 倒数。Qǐng cóng dào shǔ dì-èr háng kāishǐ dú.Please start reading from the second line from the bottom.
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