HSK · Level 64
105 words
Chinese word
尺
Pronunciation
Pinyinchǐ
Meaning
- nounChinese foot
Example
这匹布长四尺。zhè pǐ bù cháng sì chǐ
This piece of cloth is four Chinese feet long.
More examples
这条鱼不到一尺。zhè tiáo yú bú dào yì chǐ
This fish is less than one Chinese foot long.
Core concept
A hand-based measuring standard that can also become a short ruler, linking a counted length with the tool that measures it.
Common phrases
不到一尺bú dào yì chǐ
less than one Chinese foot
超过三尺chāo guò sān chǐ
more than three Chinese feet
Similar words
米mǐ: The basic metric unit of length, equal to 100 centimeters.
厘米lí mǐ: A small metric unit of length equal to one centimeter.
尺子chǐ zi: A straight, marked tool for measuring how long something is.
寸cùn: A small traditional Chinese length unit of about 3.33 centimeters.
Definition in Chinese
古代和传统使用的长度单位，用来量短距离，长度随时代和地区不同，有时也指带刻度的测量工具。gǔ dài hé chuán tǒng shǐ yòng de cháng dù dān wèi yòng lái liàng duǎn jù lí cháng dù suí shí dài hé dì qū bù tóng yǒu shí yě zhǐ dài kè dù de cè liáng gōng jù
Word origin
尺 (chǐ, "Chinese foot") was linked to the hand or arm as an early measuring reference, so it came to name both a variable length standard and a measuring ruler.
Usage tips
- Conversational Chinese usually uses metric units for ordinary measurements, while this word is more likely in traditional, tailoring, or construction contexts.