sequence

Originally a variant of (younger brother), which originally meant "order".

Components
⺮ unknown component

  Unknown component

zhú

  

bamboo

Corruption of the top part of .

弟 sound,meaning component

  Sound Meaning component

  

younger brother

Based on the original meaning of "order".

Evolution

第 Seal script Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Seal script

Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
第 Clerical script Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical script

Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
第 Regular script Modern

Regular script

Modern
Definitions

 

sequence, number; grade, degree; (prefix indicating ordinal number, e.g. first, number two etc); order; (old) rank in the imperial examinations; mansion; (literary) but; just

Most common words with 第
Freq.
Word
Meaning

第一

first

order

第一次

first

第二

second

第二天

next day