Skip to content
Start your Chinese Learning JourneyStart Now
錙 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
錙zīhalf-pound; an ancient unit of weightx, 16 strokes, radical 釒
zī(zi1) T1
  1. 1half-pound; an ancient unit of weight
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

錙zī(zi1)

The character 錙 (zī) refers to an ancient unit of weight equivalent to half a pound. It is primarily used in historical contexts or discussions about traditional Chinese measurements, often relating to commerce or agriculture.

Strokes16Radical釒
Cultural Note

In ancient China, units like 錙 played a critical role in trade and agriculture, reflecting the importance of precise measurements in economic transactions.

Memory Tip

Think of 錙 (zī) as a 'zigzag' scale that balances a weight of half a pound. The left side, 錯 (cuò), can remind you of the weight's historical significance, while the metal radical 金 (jīn) signifies that it relates to something valuable or traded.

Meanings of 錙

zī(zi1)
1half-pound; an ancient unit of weight
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

Play it, then pick what 錙 means.

About 錙

錙Simplified
16Strokes
釒Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 錙

JasonAmy

Podcast: 錙

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 錙

Usage Notes

Learners often confuse 錙 with other weight measurements like 斤 (jīn), which simply means 'pound.' While 錙 isn't commonly used in everyday conversations, it's important in historical texts. Remember to use it in formal contexts or when discussing traditional practices.

HSK Study Tips

Although 錙 is not listed in the HSK vocabulary, it can be connected to other weight-related words like 斤 (jīn) and 两 (liǎng). Focus on understanding the context of ancient measurements to grasp its usage fully.

Common Mistakes

Learners may mistakenly use 錙 in casual conversations, whereas it's more appropriate for historical or academic discussions. For example, saying '我买了五錙米' (I bought five 錙 of rice) is incorrect; use '斤' instead.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 錙

Premium — Locked

AI tone practice

Pro

Drill the tone of 錙 with AI-powered exercises, get instant feedback, and earn XP toward mastery. Interactive tone practice is part of Pro.

Tone drillsInstant feedback+5 XP
See plans to unlock

Jason Explains 錙 to You

Let me explain 錙 for you

Make it yours

Jason looks at what you watch and listen to, the checkpoints you have cleared, our lessons and what you have been exploring, and explains 錙 through them.

Sign in free to make it personal. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Etymology of 錙

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

metal

Semantic (meaning)釒
+
Phonetic (sound)甾
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

錙 = 釒 + 甾. What kind of character does that make it?

Decomposition of 錙

IDS Structure⿰釒甾
錙Full Character
=
釒jin1
left
甾zai1
right
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 錙?

How to say half-pound; an ancient unit of weight in Chinese

“half-pound; an ancient unit of weight” in Chinese is錙zī

The character 錙 (zī) refers to an ancient unit of weight equivalent to half a pound. It is primarily used in historical contexts or discussions about traditional Chinese measurements, often relating to commerce or agriculture.

When to use 錙

Learners often confuse 錙 with other weight measurements like 斤 (jīn), which simply means 'pound.' While 錙 isn't commonly used in everyday conversations, it's important in historical texts. Remember to use it in formal contexts or when discussing traditional practices.

What learners get wrong

Learners may mistakenly use 錙 in casual conversations, whereas it's more appropriate for historical or academic discussions. For example, saying '我买了五錙米' (I bought five 錙 of rice) is incorrect; use '斤' instead.

Write 錙

錙

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

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Ask Jason

Have a question about 錙?

Jason answers about this word at your level: example sentences, how it differs from similar words, and a way to remember it.

Sign in free to ask. New accounts start with 300 AI credits.

Word Family of 錙

Words Containing This Character2
锱铢必较to haggle over every cent (idiom)錙銖必較
锱zīancient weight錙
Exercise 1 of 2

Words with 錙

What does 锱铢必较 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 錙

You can relate 錙 to 斤 (jīn), which means pound, and 两 (liǎng), which equals one-tenth of a pound.

Jason Recommends

Not sure what to learn after 錙?

Jason picks three words from your level and explains why each one is worth your time next. It takes a free account so he knows what you already know.