度量 (dù liàng) — to measure; to assess; to estimate

Definition

A formal, written verb meaning 'to measure / assess' (size, cost, ability, etc.). 比 测量 more literary and broad — 量 (liáng) is the everyday word for physical measuring.

verb
to measureto assessto estimate
Easily confused

Examples

  • 度量。
    Wǒ men xū yào dù liàng yí xià zhè ge xiàng mù de chéng běn.
    We need to estimate the cost of this project.
  • 度量。
    Tā shàn yú dù liàng bié rén de néng lì.
    He is good at assessing other people's abilities.
  • 度量。
    Yòng chǐ zi dù liàng zhè kuài bù de cháng dù.
    Use a ruler to measure the length of this cloth.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

度dùmeasure
量liángmeasure

度 (measure) and 量 (measure) combine to mean measure or assess.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
又又yòuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
石
石shí度dù
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

度 has 又 (hand) and a changed form of 石; 石 gives a related sound, and the hand is tied to using the hand as a reference for measurement.

Open 度 →

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

  • 日日rìsun
  • 東東dōngbag; east

量 has 日 (sun) over 東 (bag; east). Some explanations suggest measuring under the sun or the sun rising in the east, but the exact origin is unclear.

Open 量 →
Appears in
Units & MeasurementThinking & Cognition

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