棅 (bǐng) - Handle of a steelyard & authority

棅Tone 3

bǐng ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

棅 · bǐng

Handle of a steelyard;

authority;

power;

to weigh or measure.

Handle of a steelyardauthoritypower

Usage highlights

steelyard handleauthority and powerto measure and judgepolitical powernational sovereigntyjudicial power

Synonyms

  • 柄— handle; authority; power (more common variant)
  • 权— power; authority

Antonyms

  • 从— to follow; subordinate (antonym in power context)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The handle of the scale (秤棅) was worn smooth from use.
  • He held the authority (权棅) to make final decisions.
  • Ancient texts use 棅 to mean to measure or judge (棅量).

Collocations

  • steelyard handle(秤棅)
  • authority and power(权棅)
  • to measure and judge(棅量)
  • political power(政棅)
  • national sovereignty(国棅)
  • judicial power(法棅)

Idioms

  • To hold the handle of power(执掌权棅)
  • To measure with a steelyard(以棅称量)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally referred to the handle of a steelyard, an ancient weighing instrument, symbolizing measurement and judgment.
  • By extension, came to represent authority, power, and control, especially in political and legal contexts.
  • Its usage is primarily classical or literary in modern Chinese, often found in historical texts or formal writings.

FAQ