Definition
贯 is a classical Chinese measure word used to count strings of cash coins, historically tied to 1000 coins per string. It is rarely used in modern daily language but appears in historical texts, set phrases, and formal writing. Be aware that 贯 also functions as a verb meaning 'to thread through' or 'to be consistent' in compounds like 贯穿 (to run through) and 一贯 (consistent), but those are separate from the classifier use covered here.
classifier
string of (copper coins, originally 1000 cash)
Examples
- 。Tā gěi le wǒ yī guàn tóngqián zuòwéi bàochóu.He gave me a string of copper coins as payment.
- ，。Sòng cháo shíqī, yī guàn qián néng mǎi bù shǎo dōngxi.During the Song dynasty, a string of cash could buy quite a few things.
- 贯。Nà wèi shāngrén qiàn le tā èrbǎi guàn qián.That merchant owed him two hundred strings of cash.
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