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銖 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
銖zhūa unit of weight, about 1 gramx, 14 strokes, radical 釒
zhū(zhu1) T1
  1. 1a unit of weight, about 1 gram
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

銖zhū(zhu1)

The character 銖 (zhū) refers to a unit of weight equivalent to approximately one gram. It is commonly used in contexts related to measurement, particularly in traditional Chinese settings where precise weights are important for trade and commerce. Although less common in everyday conversation, it holds significance in discussions about weight and measurement in specialized fields.

Strokes14Radical釒
Cultural Note

In ancient China, precise weight measurements were critical for trade, and 銖 reflects the historical importance of commerce in Chinese society. Traditional scales, often used in markets, still utilize this unit today.

Memory Tip

Imagine a small, shiny coin (representing 'money' or 'gold') weighing exactly one gram. The character 銖 resembles a coin with its metal components (the radical 銀 for silver) and the 'zhu' sound can remind you of 'zoo,' where weights of animals are measured meticulously.

Meanings of 銖

zhū(zhu1)
1a unit of weight, about 1 gram
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 銖

銖Simplified
14Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 銖

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Podcast: 銖

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AI Study Notes for 銖

Usage Notes

Learners might confuse 銖 with similar characters that refer to different units of measurement. It is important to use 銖 in formal contexts when discussing weights in scientific or trading situations. Be careful with the tone; 銖 is pronounced with a high-level tone (zhū), which is distinct from other tones in Mandarin.

HSK Study Tips

Although 銖 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, understanding it can help learners grasp measurement-related vocabulary that may appear in HSK exams. Focus on the character components and how they relate to traditional measurements to enhance retention.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 銖 with 銀 (yín), which means silver. For example, saying '我有一銖的銀' (wǒ yǒu yī zhū de yín) is incorrect; it should just refer to weight without implying a specific material.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 銖

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Etymology of 銖

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 朱 represents the sound. Simplified form of 銖.

Memory Hint

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)朱
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 銖

Phonosemantic compound. 钅 represents the meaning and 朱 represents the sound. Simplified form of 銖.

  1. 1The meaning half釒 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half朱 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaymetal
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 銖? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.

Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 銖?

Decomposition of 銖

IDS Structure⿰釒朱
銖Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
朱Zhu1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 銖?

How to say a unit of weight, about 1 gram in Chinese

“a unit of weight, about 1 gram” in Chinese is銖zhū

The character 銖 (zhū) refers to a unit of weight equivalent to approximately one gram. It is commonly used in contexts related to measurement, particularly in traditional Chinese settings where precise weights are important for trade and commerce. Although less common in everyday conversation, it holds significance in discussions about weight and measurement in specialized fields.

When to use 銖

Learners might confuse 銖 with similar characters that refer to different units of measurement. It is important to use 銖 in formal contexts when discussing weights in scientific or trading situations. Be careful with the tone; 銖 is pronounced with a high-level tone (zhū), which is distinct from other tones in Mandarin.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 銖 with 銀 (yín), which means silver. For example, saying '我有一銖的銀' (wǒ yǒu yī zhū de yín) is incorrect; it should just refer to weight without implying a specific material.

Write 銖

銖

Practice writing 銖 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 銖

Words Containing This Character3
铢zhūtwenty-fourth part of a tael (2 or 3 grams)銖
泰铢Thai baht泰銖
锱铢必较to haggle over every cent (idiom)錙銖必較
Exercise 1 of 3

Compound Meaning

What does 铢 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 銖

No, 銖 is more commonly used in formal contexts related to measurement and trade.

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