八两 (bā liǎng) — eight taels (approx. 400 grams)

Definition

Half a jin (斤): traditionally half a catty, about 400g. Used in recipes and old-style prescriptions (e.g., "八两人参"). Not a numeral in the modern counting sense — it functions as a fixed weight measure paired with 两.

numeral
eight taels (approx. 400 grams)

Examples

  • 八两。
    Tā mǎi le bā liǎng chá yè.
    He bought eight taels of tea leaves.
  • 八两。
    Zhè ge yào fāng xū yào bā liǎng rén shēn.
    This prescription needs eight taels of ginseng.
  • ，。
    Bàn jīn bā liǎng, chà bu duō yí yàng zhòng.
    Half a catty and eight taels are about the same weight.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

八bāeight
两liǎngtael

The number '八' as eight combines with '两' as a tael to mean eight taels.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

八 shows two bent lines, indicating the original meaning 'to divide'; it was later used for 'eight' because the words sounded alike.

Open 八 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 兩; 两 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 兩 is described as combining 一 and 㒳. The simplified 两 is a later abbreviation.

Open 两 →

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