---
title: "Daoshu Meaning: 倒数 (dàoshǔ) Means “to count down”"
description: "倒数 (traditional 倒數, dàoshǔ) means “to count down”. Hear its tones, see what 倒 and 数 each mean and a real sentence that uses it."
canonical: "https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daoshu"
published: "2026-10-21"
updated: "2026-11-06"
author: "Mandarin The Wild"
---

[What does it mean in Chinese?](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning)

# What does 倒数 mean?

猫头鹰māotóuyīngowl

倒数 dàoshǔ

## to count down

## It can also mean

- to count from the end (as in second from last)
- (math.) reciprocal

## Its characters

1. 倒 dào upside down
2. 数 shǔ to count

## In a sentence

他是倒数第三个到的。 He was the last but two to arrive.

[More about 倒数](https://mandarinthewild.com/words/%E5%80%92%E6%95%B0)

## More words with 倒 or 数

- [次数 cìshù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/cishu)
- [倒霉 dǎoméi](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/daomei)
- [多数 duōshù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/duoshu)
- [反倒 fǎndào](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fandao)
- [分数 fēnshù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/fenshu)
- [人数 rénshù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/renshu)
- [少数 shǎoshù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shaoshu)
- [数额 shù’é](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shue)
- [数据 shùjù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shuju)
- [数据库 shùjùkù](https://mandarinthewild.com/meaning/shujuku)

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