Chinese word

寸

Pronunciation

Pinyincùn

Meaning

  • nouninch

Example

这块布要裁两寸。zhè kuài bù yào cái liǎng cùn

This piece of cloth needs two inches cut off.

Illustration for 寸 (inch)

More examples

这把尺子上标着一寸的刻度。zhè bǎ chǐ zi shàng biāo zhe yí cùn de kè dù

This ruler has one-inch markings.

Core concept

A short-distance marker on the traditional Chinese measuring scale, equal to one tenth of a chi and about 3.33 cm.

Common phrases

  • 一寸光阴yí cùn guāng yīn

    a brief moment

  • 一寸之地yí cùn zhī dì

    a small piece of land

Similar words

厘米lí mǐ: A length unit equal to one hundredth of a meter.
英寸yīng cùn: A length unit equal to 2.54 centimeters.
毫米háo mǐ: A length unit equal to one thousandth of a meter.
米mǐ: The basic length unit equal to one hundred centimeters.

Definition in Chinese

自古使用的长度单位，1寸等于一尺的1/10，约3.33厘米。zì gǔ shǐ yòng de cháng dù dān wèi 1 cùn děng yú yì chǐ de 1 10 yuē 3.33 lí mǐ

Word origin

The character 寸 (cùn, "inch") records an early hand-based measure, while the unit later became one tenth of the traditional chi, about 3.33 cm.

Usage tips

  • For screens and product sizes, 英寸 (yīngcùn, "inch") names the 2.54 cm unit, while 寸 (cùn, "traditional length unit") refers to the older Chinese measure unless the context says otherwise.

Related words

  • 一寸yí cùnone inchnoun
  • 寸土寸金cùn tǔ cùn jīnland is extremely valuableidiom

Word lists with this word