斤两 (jīn liǎng) — (literal) weight (in jin and liang units); (figurative) significance, importance, substance

Definition

Literally 'jin and liang' (weight units), but as a set phrase 斤两 means 'substance, real weight' — usually after 有 to mean a remark or person carries genuine weight. Almost always used figuratively, rarely for actual weighing.

noun
(literal) weight (in jin and liang units)(figurative) significanceimportancesubstance

Examples

  • 斤两？
    Zhè zhǒng huò wù de jīn liǎng shì duō shǎo?
    What is the weight of this kind of goods?
  • 斤两，。
    Tā de huà hěn yǒu jīn liǎng, dà jiā dōu hěn zhòng shì.
    His words carry weight; everyone takes them very seriously.
  • ，斤两。
    Bié kàn zhè ge rén nián qīng, shuō de huà què hěn yǒu jīn liǎng.
    Don't be fooled by his youth – the things he says have a lot of substance.

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.

斤jīnjin unit
两liǎngliang unit

The word uses 斤 and 两, two weight units, to refer literally to weight and figuratively to substance.

Characters in this word

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

斤 is drawn as a simple picture of an axe.

Open 斤 →

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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