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| Chinese
Weights and Measures |
Introduction |
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Main Headings:
Length
Weight
Volume
Area
Click above to go directly to our tables of equivalent
measures.
Some Chinese units for length and weight have been in
existence for more than 2, 000 years, whilst others
have been unified into a nationwide system during the
last millennium. Both the Traditional Chinese and the
Imperial measuring systems are based upon useful sizes
for peoples daily lives. The Metric system emulates
this, but is not based upon this premise. However, you
will most likely want to know how Chinese people use
measurements today.
During the 1980's China adopted the International Metric
Standard (SI) as the de facto system of measurements,
as taught in schools. It is virtually the same as the
International Standard in use, but has some Chinese
quirks. However, traditional Chinese measurements are
still used in shops, like when buying loose sugar. They
are also used for official area calculations. The British
Imperial system is also widely used, especially in Hong
Kong of course, but also in neighbouring greater Guangdong
Province.
Most Cantonese people will understand how to use all
three systems - as it relates to their work and daily
lives. Therefore all you need to do is specify which
measuring system you are using when dealing with them.
However, we recommend Expats learn the basics of Chinese
measurements and use them in daily life.
This is a sensible guide giving you a sound understanding
and how to convert between all three systems. It is
not exhaustive by any means - but then do you really
need to know how many rods, poles, or perches there
are in a Chinese Li?
The three measuring systems are identified as
follows:
• Chinese = shì zhì = 市制 (literally "market
system")
• Imperial = ying = Prefix 英 (Means English)
• Metric = gong = Prefix 公 (Means SI or common/standard)
The word for size is: 'da xiao' Mandarin, 'dai siu'
Cantonese, chars 大小 meaning = 'big / small?'
Note:
The words lí (厘) and fēn (分) for small units are the
same for length, area, and mass; however, they refer
to different kinds of measurements.
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| Unit |
Imperial |
Metric |
Mandarin |
Cantonese |
Char |
| Length |
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| Chinese Inch |
1.463 inches |
3.175 mm |
cun |
t’sun |
寸 |
| UK inch |
1 inch |
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tien or cyun |
吋 |
| Chinese Foot |
1.29 feet |
33 cm |
chi |
chek |
呎 |
| Chinese Yard |
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ma
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maa |
碼 |
| Chinese Mile |
0.31 miles |
500 meters |
li |
waa lAi |
華里 |
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| The Mandarin system of Length: |
Length = d’zhit 節
1 Yin = 10 Zhang
1 Zhang = 10 Chi
1 Chi = 10 Cun
1 Cun = 10 Fen
1 Fen is now the equivalent of 0.231 cm. |
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| Unit |
Imperial |
Metric |
Mandarin |
Cantonese |
Char |
| Weight |
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| Catty |
1.33 Pounds |
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gan |
斤 |
A Catty is the basic Hong Kong Pound
unit of weight, formerly:
16 liang = 1 jin = 604.79 g |
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| Chinese Gram |
0.04 oz |
1 gram |
ke |
gung fan |
公分 |
| Tael |
1.3 oz |
37.8 grams |
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Tael leung |
両 |
| Chinese Kilo |
1.1 lbs |
500 grams |
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jin: See ‘Catty’ above |
斤 |
| Hundredweight |
110 lbs |
50 kilos |
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dan |
担 |
Weight
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bong bong |
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The Mandarin system of Weights is:
1 Dan = 4 Jun
1 Jun = 30 Jin
1 Jin= 16 Liang
1 Liang = 24 Zhu (Cantonese = loeng両)
1 Jin is equivalent to the current 253 grams.
磅 |
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| Unit |
Imperial |
Metric |
Mandarin |
Cantonese |
Char |
| Volume |
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| Chinese Litre |
0.22 Gallons |
1 litre |
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sheng |
升 |
| Chinese Gallon |
2.2 Gallons |
10 Litres |
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dou |
斗 |
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| The Mandarin system of Volume is: |
Volume = Zhong d’zhik 容積
1 Hu = 10 Dou
1 Dou = 10 Sheng
1 Sheng is equivalent to the present 200 ml. |
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| British Imperial measures are also
prevalent in Guangdong Province, and especially
used by default in Hong Kong. |
| Pint |
1 Pint |
454 Liters |
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ban yut |
品脫 |
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| Unit |
Imperial |
Metric |
Mandarin |
Cantonese |
Char |
| Area |
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| Chinese Acre |
0.16 acres |
666.66 square meters |
mu |
mo |
亩 |
| Ready Reckoner: |
| 15, 000 Mu |
2, 500 Acres |
1, 000 Hectares |
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| 15万亩 |
2500英亩 |
1万公顷 |
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Area:
The Chinese system of area is a bit of a quagmire,
as all professionals and governments use Traditional
Chinese measurements. This is because all land
in China is controlled using these measurements;
which are often at rural village level where formal
education may be a little lacking in depth .Changing
this system would cause chaos at best, even were
it to be implemented by local users.
In contrast, modern developers often use Imperial
measurements within Hong Kong and Guangdong Province.
This is being superceded by the additional use
of the SI Metric units throughout the rest of
China.
Regarding foreigners living their everyday lives
in China, fortunately units of area are not often
required. You will find them when renting or buying
property; and in this case all property is priced
per square meter. Regards things such as paper;
A2, A3, A4, and A5 are widely used and understood.
However, Chinese paper sizes are slightly different
for each set size, but for instance, printers
will print A4 to the Imperial, USA, or Metric
equivalent if you ask them too. |
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http://www.convert-me.com/en/
Note:
Traditional Chinese measurements are seldom
used today, and many are based on the number 16
(Like British Ounces) ; although bases 8, 12,
and 20 are also common. However, they are used
(Or their Metric or Imperial rough equivalents)
in local shops, village shops, and virtually all
wet markets. You need to know some of these, and
understand their usage and meanings
For a lot more information and specific units,
please visit wapedia
o http://wapedia.mobi/en/Chinese_units_of_measurement
(3 pages)
We make no apologies if this is confusing:
o Sometimes the same sound and character has different
meanings in combination
o Sometimes the same sound has different characters
o Sometimes the measurments have changed locally
o Hong Kong and Mainland measurements were different
until 1986
Guangdong Cantonese use their own versions and
words for both systems!
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This information is as supplied by ourselves, and ably
supported by our friends and various internet portals. |
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