Prefixes 小 and 第
Learn Prefixes 小 and 第 with practical HSK 1 examples, focus vocabulary, common pitfalls, and targeted cloze practice.
Pattern
小- / 第-
Use this HSK 1 pattern to make sentence structure, scope, or emphasis explicit instead of relying on word-for-word English order.
我住在第一层。
When to use Prefixes 小 and 第
Read 小- / 第- as a sentence tool, not just as vocabulary. First locate the main action or claim, then ask what 第 adds to it.
今天是第一天。
Today is the first day.
他坐在第二个位子。
He sits in the second seat.
Common traps
- Do not translate 小- / 第- mechanically from English; check the Chinese word order first.
- Keep 第 close to the part of the sentence it controls.
- Do not overuse the pattern in every sentence; use it when it adds a clear role.
Targeted drill
Practice this exact pattern before moving on.
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