Basic Meaning
The character 十 primarily means the number ten. It is one of the first numbers learned in Chinese and is used in counting, dates, and quantities.
Extended Uses and Expressions
Besides representing the number 10, 十 appears in idiomatic expressions to convey completeness or perfection, such as 十全十美 (perfect in every way). It can also be part of compound words indicating full scores or top rankings, like 得十分 (get full marks).
Common Collocations
- 十个 (shí gè): ten (counting measure word)
- 十分 (shí fēn): full score, very
- 十全十美 (shíquán-shíměi): perfect, flawless
When using 十, remember it can function both as a numeral and as a symbol of completeness or excellence depending on context.