数据
shùjù · HSK 4
data
📊 数 = count/number + 据 = evidence/basis → numerical evidence = data
数 means number or to count; 据 means evidence or basis. Together they form numerical evidence — facts and figures gathered as a basis for analysis. Shùjù is the standard term for data in computing and statistics.
数 — 婁 (lóu, phonetic) + 攵 (action radical)
数 is a phono-semantic compound. The right side 攵 (a hand holding a stick) suggests an action, originally tallying or counting by striking marks. The left side 婁 supplies the sound. Over time the meaning broadened from 'to count' to 'number' and 'several'.
据 — hand radical 扌 + 豦
据 combines the hand radical 扌 with the phonetic component 豦. Originally meaning to seize or grasp with the hand, it later extended to 'rely on' or 'according to.' In modern simplified Chinese, 据 also serves as the simplified form of 據, merging the two characters' meanings.
shù jù · HSK 5
data
📊 数 (count) + 据 (evidence) = counted evidence = data
数 means number or to count; 据 means evidence or basis. Together they form counted evidence — the numerical facts you collect and analyze. Common in 数据库 (database) and 大数据 (big data).
数 — 婁 (lóu, phonetic) + 攵 (action radical)
数 is a phono-semantic compound. The right side 攵 (a hand holding a stick) suggests an action, originally tallying or counting by striking marks. The left side 婁 supplies the sound. Over time the meaning broadened from 'to count' to 'number' and 'several'.
据 — hand radical 扌 + 豦
据 combines the hand radical 扌 with the phonetic component 豦. Originally meaning to seize or grasp with the hand, it later extended to 'rely on' or 'according to.' In modern simplified Chinese, 据 also serves as the simplified form of 據, merging the two characters' meanings.