HSK 3.0 · LEVEL 1
第
Used to indicate ordinal numbers (e.g., first, second); also means a grade, rank, or a large mansion.
Free Chinese vocabulary flashcard · HSK 1
Why does 第 look like this?
It's composed of the 'bamboo' radical (竹) on top and the phonetic/meaning part '弓' (bow) intertwined with lines below. Historically, it related to bamboo slips being sequenced or graded, which is why it now functions as a marker for ordinal numbers!