TongTong
Sign in

英尺 (yīng chǐ) — (measure word) foot (unit of length, approx. 30.48 cm)

Definition

Western 'foot' (≈30.48 cm) used as a unit of length for height, distance, and dimensions — listed here as a classifier/measure word in imperial units.

classifier
foot (unit of length, approx. 30.48 cm)

Examples

  • 英尺。
    Zhè zhāng zhuō zi cháng sān yīng chǐ.
    This table is three feet long.
  • 英尺。
    Nà ge yóu yǒng chí yǒu shí wǔ yīng chǐ shēn.
    That swimming pool is fifteen feet deep.
  • 英尺。
    Tā shēn gāo liù yīng chǐ duō.
    He is over six feet tall.

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.

英yīngEnglish
尺chǐunit

英 with 尺 names the English unit of length.

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
艹Written in full as艸cǎograss
Sound part声符shēngfú
央
央yāng英yīng
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

英 pairs 艹 (grass) with 央, which gives the sound.

Open 英 →

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 →
Appears in
Units & Measurement2000 Most Frequent Chinese Words3000 Most Frequent Chinese Words5000 Most Frequent Chinese Words

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.