Usage note
“第”字放在数字前面，表示顺序，比如“第一”是排在最前面的意思。
“dì” zì fàng zài shùzì qiánmiàn, biǎoshì shùnxù, bǐrú “dì yī” shì pái zài zuì qiánmiàn de yìsi.
The word “第” is placed before a number to show order, for example, “第一” means the very first in line.
Context note
“第”用在数字前面，表示顺序，比如第一名、第二课。
“dì” yòng zài shùzì qiánmiàn, biǎoshì shùnxù, bǐrú dì yī míng, dì èr kè.
“第” is placed before a number to show order or sequence, like first place or second lesson.
5 examples
第一
dì yī
first
第二
dì èr
second
第三
dì sān
third
第四
dì sì
fourth
第五
dì wǔ
fifth
5 mini stories
小明是班上的第一
xiǎo míng shì bān shàng de dì yī
Xiaoming is the first in his class.
今天是暑假的第三天
jīntiān shì xià jiǎ de dì sān tiān
Today is the third day of summer vacation.
妈妈买了第一本书
māma mǎi le dì yī běn shū
Mom bought the first book.
爸爸是公司的第二经理
bàba shì gōngsī de dì èr jīnglǐ
Dad is the second manager in the company.
我们住在第五层
wǒmen zhù zài dì wǔ céng
We live on the fifth floor.
Mini dialogue
你第几名？
A
你跑步比赛得了第几名？
Nǐ pǎobù bǐsài dé le dì jǐ míng?
What place did you get in the running race?
B
我得了第一名！
Wǒ dé le dì yī míng!
I got first place!
第二次
A
这是你第几次来中国？
Zhè shì nǐ dì jǐ cì lái Zhōngguó?
How many times have you been to China?
B
这是我第二次来。
Zhè shì wǒ dì èr cì lái.
This is my second time here.
Related words and contrasts
related
第一
dì yī
first
Uses 第 to form the ordinal number 'first'.
related
第二
dì èr
second
Uses 第 to form the ordinal number 'second'.