Meanings of 寸
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About 寸
Podcast: 寸
Podcast: 寸
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AI Study Notes for 寸
分 (fēn) - use 寸 for measurements of length or small size, while 分 is used for smaller units of measurement or to denote fractions.
Learners often confuse 寸 with other measurements such as 米 (mǐ, meter) or 厘米 (límǐ, centimeter), which can lead to errors in context. It is more commonly used in informal settings, but still appears in formal contexts related to measurements. Be mindful of tone; '寸' is third tone, which can be mispronounced.
While 寸 is not explicitly listed in HSK levels, it connects to HSK 1 vocabulary related to measurements and sizes. Students should focus on recognizing '寸' in phrases and understanding its usage in relation to other measurement words.
A common mistake is using 寸 interchangeably with other units without understanding the size differences, such as thinking it equates to centimeters. For example, saying '我身高两寸' (wǒ shēngāo liǎng cùn) instead of '我身高两米' (wǒ shēngāo liǎng mǐ) for height in meters.
Pronunciation of 寸
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Etymology of 寸
Pictograph of a hand with a line marking a spot on the wrist. In traditional Chinese medicine this spot on the wrist where the pulse can be taken is called the 寸口.
A hand with a dot indicating where the pulse can be felt, about an inch up the wrist
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 寸
Pictograph of a hand with a line marking a spot on the wrist. In traditional Chinese medicine this spot on the wrist where the pulse can be taken is called the 寸口.
- 1The giveawayA hand with a dot indicating where the pulse can be felt, about an inch up the wrist
- 2On the record asideographic — someone drew an idea rather than an object.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 寸? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 寸?
How to say a unit of length in Chinese
“a unit of length” in Chinese is寸
寸 (cùn) is a unit of length in Chinese, equivalent to approximately one-third of a decimeter or about 1.3 centimeters, commonly used in both traditional and modern contexts. It can also imply something small or tiny, often used in expressions to denote a short distance or a small size.
When to use 寸
Learners often confuse 寸 with other measurements such as 米 (mǐ, meter) or 厘米 (límǐ, centimeter), which can lead to errors in context. It is more commonly used in informal settings, but still appears in formal contexts related to measurements. Be mindful of tone; '寸' is third tone, which can be mispronounced.
寸 or something close to it
分 (fēn) - use 寸 for measurements of length or small size, while 分 is used for smaller units of measurement or to denote fractions.
What learners get wrong
A common mistake is using 寸 interchangeably with other units without understanding the size differences, such as thinking it equates to centimeters. For example, saying '我身高两寸' (wǒ shēngāo liǎng cùn) instead of '我身高两米' (wǒ shēngāo liǎng mǐ) for height in meters.
Write 寸
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Practice writing 寸 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Grammar Patterns of 寸
寸 functions as a number. It almost always combines with a measure word before a noun (三个人, 五本书). Standalone numbers are rare outside of math or counting. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Complete the Sentence
12英____左右的宽度绝对是你应考虑的最低值。
About 12 inches wide is the absolute minimum you should consider.
Example Sentences for 寸 (10)
Word Family of 寸
Compound Meaning
What does 得 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 寸
寸 means 'inch' or 'thumb' in Chinese and can denote something small.
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