尺 (chǐ) - A unit of length (Chinese foot, about 33.3 & ruler (measuring tool)

尺Tone 3

chǐ ｜ 4 strokes ｜ radical: 尸

橙丁

尺 · chǐ

A unit of length (Chinese foot, about 33.

3 cm);

ruler (measuring tool);

tape measure.

A unit of length (Chinese foot, about 33.3ruler (measuring tool)tape measure.

Usage highlights

RulerTape measureCarpenter's squareOne Chinese footFoot and inchScale

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • 寸— cun (smaller unit, 1/10 of chi)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • This ruler is 30 centimeters long (这把尺子).
  • One Chinese foot equals about 33.3 cm (一尺).
  • He used a tape measure (卷尺) to measure the room.
  • The carpenter's square (角尺) is an essential tool.

Collocations

  • Ruler(尺子)
  • Tape measure(卷尺)
  • Carpenter's square(角尺)
  • One Chinese foot(一尺)
  • Foot and inch(尺寸)
  • Scale(比例尺)

Idioms

  • Measure with a carpenter's square, mark with an ink line(尺规作图)
  • Within an inch of one's life(尺有所短，寸有所长)
  • A foot may seem short when compared with something longer(尺短寸长)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically, '尺' was a fundamental unit of length in China, varying slightly by dynasty but generally around 33.3 cm.
  • The character appears in many tools and idioms related to measurement and precision.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, measurements like 'cun' (寸) were derived from body proportions relative to the 'chi'.

FAQ