算 suàn calculate
calculate; to count as
How to remember 算: 𥫗 bamboo + 目 eye + 廾 two hands = calculate. With the bamboo abacus under her eye and two hands flying over the beads, the shopkeeper races her grandson's phone to calculate the bill.
Component breakdown
算 = 𥫗 bamboo + 𥃲
- 𥫗 bamboo
- 𥃲
- 目 eye
- 廾 two hands
With the bamboo abacus under her eye and two hands flying over the beads, the shopkeeper races her grandson's phone to calculate the bill.
How it is used
- Two jobs: literally to calculate (计算 jìsuàn) and figuratively to count as / be considered - 这算便宜的 (zhè suàn piányi de) this counts as cheap.
- 打算 (dǎsuàn) means to plan/intend: 我打算明年去 (wǒ dǎsuàn míngnián qù) I plan to go next year.
- Concessive frame 就算 (jiùsuàn)…也… means 'even if': 就算下雨我也去 (jiùsuàn xiàyǔ wǒ yě qù) even if it rains I'll go.
- 算了 (suànle) is a super-common 'forget it / let it go'; 总算 (zǒngsuàn) is 'finally, at long last' after a wait.
Words with 算
- 打算dǎsuànto planHSK 3
- 计算jìsuànto calculateHSK 5
- 计算机jìsuànjīcomputerHSK 5
- 就算jiùsuàneven ifHSK 6
- 总算zǒngsuànat long lastHSK 6
- 算了suànlelet it beHSK 6
- 算是suànshìconsidered to beHSK 6
- 不算búsuànto not calculateHSK 7
- 估算gūsuànassessmentHSK 7
- 划算huásuànto calculateHSK 7
- 推算tuīsuànto calculateHSK 7
- 盘算pánsuanto plotHSK 7
- 算数suànshùto count numbersHSK 7
- 算盘suànpánabacusHSK 7
- 算计suànjìto reckonHSK 7
- 精打细算jīngdǎ-xìsuànmeticulous planning and careful accountingHSK 7
- 结算jiésuànto settle a billHSK 7
- 运算yùnsuànto perform calculationsHSK 7
- 预算yùsuànbudgetHSK 7
- 测算cèsuànto take measurements and calculateHSK 9
- 算账suànzhàngto balance the booksHSK 9
Example sentences
- 算一算你的钱包有多少现金？ Suàn yī suàn nǐ de qiánbāo yǒu duōshǎo xiànjīn?Count how much cash you've got in your wallet.
- 我打算出国旅游。 Wǒ dǎsuàn chūguó lǚyóu.I intend to travel abroad.
- 你难道是吃干饭的？难道就这样算了不成？ Nǐ nándào shì chīgānfàn de? Nándào jiù zhèyàng suàn le bù chéng？Are you that incapable? How can we let it go at that?