称称 (chēng chēng) — (potentially) to weigh (quickly, tentatively)

Definition

称 (chèn) is the casual, short-form verb meaning to weigh something quickly or just to check its weight — lighter and more tentative than 称量/称一称. Often used with 一下 or 看 after it.

verb

(potentially) to weigh (quickly, tentatively)

Examples

称称。
Qǐng nǐ bāng wǒ chēng chēng yí xià zhè ge píng guǒ.
Please help me give this apple a quick weigh.
称称。
Tā chēng chēng zhī hòu shuō zhè ge dài zi tài zhòng le.
After weighing it, he said this bag is too heavy.
称称，。
Nǐ chēng chēng kàn, zhè bāo mǐ gòu bu gòu.
Weigh this bag of rice and see if it's enough.

Origin

Reduplicated word

构词法gòucífǎ

重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

称chēngweigh

The doubled 称 suggests a brief, tentative weighing action.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 稱; 称 is its simplified writing.

禾爯稱

Meaning part形符xíngfú

禾禾hérice

Sound part声符shēngfú

爯

爯chēng稱chēng

Same sound today

The traditional form 稱 pairs 禾 (rice) with 爯, a part giving the sound; it is explained as measuring rice. The simplified 称 is a later shorthand.

Open 称 →