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尺寸 (chǐ cùn) — size; dimensions; measurements (of clothes); (figurative) propriety; discretion; sense of appropriateness

Definition

尺寸 means physical size or measurements of an object (skirt, window). For a person's height, use 个子/个头儿; the figurative sense ('tact, propriety') overlaps with 分寸.

noun
sizedimensionsmeasurements (of clothes)(figurative) proprietydiscretionsense of appropriateness

Examples

  • 尺寸。
    Zhè tiáo qún zi de chǐ cùn zhèng hé shì.
    This skirt's size is just right.
  • 尺寸。
    Qǐng liáng yí xià chuāng zi de chǐ cùn.
    Please measure the dimensions of the window.
  • 尺寸，。
    Tā shuō huà hěn yǒu chǐ cùn, cóng bù dé zuì rén.
    He is very tactful when speaking and never offends anyone.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

尺chǐlength unit
寸cùninch

尺 and 寸 are length units; together they mean size or measurements.

Characters in this word

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

The shape is thought to picture a hand with the thumb and middle finger spread apart, like a natural ruler for measuring length.

Open 尺 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

假借jiǎjièLater borrowed for its sound alone — the picture has nothing to do with today’s meaning.

寸 has two unrelated original forms: a line on the hand and an abbreviated form of another character. It was borrowed for its sound, so the picture is unrelated to the modern meaning.

Open 寸 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Size & Dimension

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