Definition
充数 is a separable verb (离合词) meaning 'to make up the number' or 'to serve as a stopgap' — it implies that someone or something is included just to fill a quota, often with the sense of being inadequate. The verb 充 and the noun 数 can separate when inserting measure words, aspect markers, or modifiers: e.g., 充个数 ('fill a spot'), 充了数 ('filled the count'). You cannot put an object directly after 充数; instead use the pattern 用...充数 or 拿...来充数.
v.o.
to make up the numberto serve as a stopgap (often with the implication of being inadequate)
Examples
- ，充数。Tā gēnběn bú huì tán gāngqín, zhǐshì lái chōng shù de.He can't play the piano at all; he's just here to make up the numbers.
- ，。Zhè cì bǐsài wǒmen duì quē yí gè rén, zhǐhǎo yòng tā chōng gè shù.Our team is missing one person for this competition, so we have to use him to fill a spot.
- 充数，。Zhèxiē jiù shèbèi fàng zài cāngkù lǐ chōng shù, gēnběn bù néng yòng.These old pieces of equipment are just sitting in the warehouse to make up the count; they're completely unusable.
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