Two hands hold up a clock whose numbers are all math problems: √4 for two, 3! for six, 16/2 for eight. Telling the time takes 数学.
数学 (shùxué) means “mathematics.” 数 means number and 学 means study.
As a verb, 数 is read shǔ and means to count. A math class is 数学课 (shùxué kè).
我的数学不太好。 — Wǒ de shùxué bú tài hǎo. — I’m not very good at math.
我们明天有数学考试。 — Wǒmen míngtiān yǒu shùxué kǎoshì. — We have a math test tomorrow.
A clock with a bow on top sits next to a man with a big bump on his head, because a clock is a traditional no-no as a present in China. Pick a different 礼物.
礼物 (lǐwù) means “gift” or “present.” 礼 means courtesy or ritual, and 物 means thing.
A gift is counted with 份 (fèn): 一份礼物. Clocks are traditionally avoided as gifts, because 送钟 (sòng zhōng), “give a clock,” sounds the same as 送终 (sòngzhōng), to attend someone at the end of life.
这是送给你的礼物。 — Zhè shì sòng gěi nǐ de lǐwù. — This is a present for you.
谢谢你的礼物！ — Xièxie nǐ de lǐwù! — Thank you for the gift!
