Chinese units of measurement#Chinese area units promulgated in 1915

{{Short description|Traditional system of measurement used by Han Chinese}}

{{about|Chinese units of measurement as generally used in mainland China|local modifications of it|Taiwanese units of measurement|and|Hong Kong units of measurement|and|Singaporean units of measurement}}

{{Infobox Chinese

|pic=Classicchineseinstrumentscale.jpg |piccap=A traditional Chinese scale

|c={{linktext|市制}} |p=shìzhì |w=shih-chih |l={{nowrap|market system}}

|c2=市用制 |p2=shìyòngzhì |w2=shih-yung-chih |l2={{nowrap|market-use system}}

}}

Chinese units of measurement, known in Chinese as the shìzhì ("market system"), are the traditional units of measurement of the Han Chinese. Although Chinese numerals have been decimal (base-10) since the Shang, several Chinese measures use hexadecimal (base-16).{{citation needed|date=January 2022}} Local applications have varied, but the Chinese dynasties usually proclaimed standard measurements and recorded their predecessor's systems in their histories.

In the present day, the People's Republic of China maintains some customary units based upon the market units but standardized to round values in the metric system, for example the common jin or catty of exactly 500{{nbsp}}g. The Chinese name for most metric units is based on that of the closest traditional unit; when confusion might arise, the word "market" ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|市}}}}, shì) is used to specify the traditional unit and "common" or "public" ({{lang|zh-hant|{{linktext|公}}}}, gōng) is used for the metric value. Taiwan, like Korea, saw its traditional units standardized to Japanese values and their conversion to a metric basis, such as the Taiwanese ping of about 3.306{{nbsp}}m² based on the square ken. The Hong Kong SAR continues to use its traditional units, now legally defined based on a local equation with metric units. For instance, the Hong Kong catty is precisely {{val|604.78982|u=g}}.

Note: The names lí ({{lang|zh|釐}} or {{lang|zh|厘}}) and fēn ({{lang|zh-hant|分}}) for small units are the same for length, area, and mass; however, they refer to different kinds of measurements.

History

File:Bronze ruler. Han Dynasty 206 BCE to CE 220. Excavated in Zichang County. Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an.jpg; Shaanxi History Museum, Xi'an]]

According to the Liji, the legendary Yellow Emperor created the first measurement units. The Xiao Erya and the Kongzi Jiayu state that length units were derived from the human body. According to the Records of the Grand Historian, these human body units caused inconsistency, and Yu the Great, another legendary figure, unified the length measurements. Rulers with decimal units have been unearthed from Shang dynasty tombs.

In the Zhou dynasty, the king conferred nobles with powers of the state and the measurement units began to be inconsistent from state to state. After the Warring States period, Qin Shi Huang unified China, and later standardized measurement units. In the Han dynasty, these measurements were still being used, and were documented systematically in the Book of Han.

Astronomical instruments show little change of the length of chi in the following centuries, since the calendar needed to be consistent. It was not until the introduction of decimal units in the Ming dynasty that the traditional system was revised.

=Republican Era=

On 7 January 1915, the Beiyang government promulgated a measurement law to use not only metric system as the standard but also a set of Chinese-style measurement based directly on the Qing dynasty definitions ({{lang|zh|营造尺库平制}}).{{citation |contribution-url=http://gaz.ncl.edu.tw/eng/detail.jsp?sysid=D1500002 |contribution=權度法 [Quándù Fǎ] |title=政府公報 [Zhèngfǔ Gōngbào, Government Gazette] |location=Beijing |volume=957 |publisher=Office of the President |date=7 January 1915 |pages=85–94 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. {{in lang|zh}}

On 16 February 1929, the Nationalist government adopted and promulgated The Weights and Measures Act{{Cite web |url=http://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/LawClass/LawHistory.aspx?PCode=J0100052 |title=The Weights and Measures Act: Legislative History |publisher=Ministry of Justice (Republic of China)}} to adopt the metric system as the official standard and to limit the newer Chinese units of measurement ({{zh|c=市用制|p=shìyòngzhì|l=market-use system}}) to private sales and trade in Article 11, effective on 1 January 1930. These newer "market" units are based on rounded metric numbers.{{Cite web|url=http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425025351/http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-04-25 |title=The Weights and Measures Act (1929) |publisher=Legislative Yuan }}

=People's Republic of China=

The Government of the People's Republic of China continued using the market system along with metric system, as decreed by the State Council of the People's Republic of China on 25 June 1959, but 1 catty being 500 grams, would become divided into 10 (new) taels, instead of 16 (old) taels, to be converted from province to province, while exempting Chinese prescription drugs from the conversion to prevent errors.{{in lang|zh}} [http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2011-11/09/content_1988933.htm 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China], [http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/shuju/1959/gwyb195916.pdf No. 180], pages 311 to 312

On 27 February 1984, the State Council of the People's Republic of China decreed the market system to remain acceptable until the end of 1990 and ordered the transition to the national legal measures by that time, but farmland measures would be exempt from this mandatory metrication until further investigation and study.[http://www.yfzs.gov.cn/gb/info/LawData/gjf2001q/gwyfg/2003-07/10/1425371513.html Decree of the State Council Concerning the Use of Uniform Legal Measures in the Country] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409152907/http://www.yfzs.gov.cn/gb/info/LawData/gjf2001q/gwyfg/2003-07/10/1425371513.html |date=2015-04-09 }}

=Hong Kong=

In 1976 the Hong Kong Metrication Ordinance allowed a gradual replacement of the system in favor of the International System of Units (SI) metric system.Yearbook HK. "[http://www.yearbook.gov.hk/1997/ch7/e7s.htm Yearbook]." Metrication. Retrieved on 26 April 2007. The Weights and Measures Ordinance defines the metric, Imperial, and Chinese units.[https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap68 Cap. 68 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE] As of 2012, all three systems are legal for trade and are in widespread use.

=Macau=

On 24 August 1992, Macau published Law No. 14/92/M to order that Chinese units of measurement similar to those used in Hong Kong, Imperial units, and United States customary units would be permissible for five years since the effective date of the Law, 1 January 1993, on the condition of indicating the corresponding SI values, then for three more years thereafter, Chinese, Imperial, and US units would be permissible as secondary to the SI.Law No. 14/92/M ({{in lang|zh}} {{lang|zh|[http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/92/34/lei14_cn.asp 第14/92/M號法律]}}; {{in lang|pt}} [http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/92/34/lei14.asp Lei n.^o 14/92/M])

Ancient Chinese units

=Length=

File:Gilded Bronze Ruler - 1 chi = 231 cm. Western Han (206 BCE - CE 8). Hanzhong City.jpg = 231 mm. Western Han (206 BCE–8 CE). Hanzhong City]]

Traditional units of length include the chi ({{lang|zh|尺}}), bu ({{lang|zh|步}}), and li ({{lang|zh|里}}). The precise length of these units, and the ratios between these units, has varied over time. 1 bu has consisted of either 5 or 6 chi, while 1 li has consisted of 300 or 360 bu.

class="wikitable" \|+Length in metresSchinz, 1996
rowspan="2"\|dynasty !rowspan="2"\|chi !colspan="2"\|bu !colspan="2"\|li
= 5 chi != 6 chi != 300 bu != 360 bu
rowspan="2" valign="top"\|Shang ({{Circa\|1600\|1045 BC}}) \|0.1675 \| \|1.0050 \|301.50 \|
0.1690 \| \|1.0140 \|304.20 \|
Western Zhou ({{Circa\|1045}}–771 BC) \|0.1990 \| \|1.1940 \|358.20 \|
rowspan="3" valign="top"\|Eastern Zhou ({{Circa\|771}}–256 BC) \|0.2200 \| \|1.3200 \|396.00 \|
0.2270 \| \|1.3620 \|408.60 \|
0.2310 \| \|1.3860 \|415.80 \|
Qin ({{Circa\|221}}–206 BC) \|0.2260 \| \|1.3560 \|406.80Schinz, p. 476. 415.80Dubs (1938), pp. 276-280; (1955), p. 160, n. 7.Hulsewé (1961), pp. 206–207. \|
rowspan="2" valign="top"\|Han ({{Circa\|202 BC}}–9 AD; 25–220 AD) \|0.2300 \| \|1.3800 \|414.00 \|
0.2381 \| \|1.4286 \|415.80Hill (2015), "About the Measurements", pp. xxiii-xxiv. 415.80 428.58 \|
Wei - Sui ({{Circa\|220}}–266 AD; 581 to 618 AD) \|0.2550 \| \|1.5300 \|459.00 \|
rowspan="2" valign="top"\|Tang ({{Circa\|618}}–690 AD; 705–907 AD) \|0.2465 \|1.2325 \| \|369.75 \|443.70
0.2955 \|1.4775 \| \|443.25 \|531.90
Song ({{Circa\|960}}–1279 AD) \|0.2700 \|1.3500 \| \|405.00 \|486.00
Northern Song ({{Circa\|960}}–1127 AD) \|0.3080 \|1.5400 \| \|462.00 \|554.40
Ming ({{Circa\|1368}}–1644 AD) \|0.3008–0.3190 \|1.5040–1.5950 \| \|451.20–478.50 \|541.44–574.20
Qing ({{Circa\|1636}}–1912 AD) \|0.3080–0.3352 \|1.5400–1.6760 \| \|462.00–503.89 \|554.40–603.46

class="wikitable"

|+Length in metresSchinz, 1996

rowspan="2"|dynasty

!rowspan="2"|chi

!colspan="2"|bu

!colspan="2"|li

= 5 chi

!= 6 chi

!= 300 bu

!= 360 bu

rowspan="2" valign="top"|Shang ({{Circa|1600|1045 BC}})

|0.1675

|1.0050

|301.50

0.1690

|1.0140

|304.20

Western Zhou ({{Circa|1045}}–771 BC)

|0.1990

|1.1940

|358.20

rowspan="3" valign="top"|Eastern Zhou ({{Circa|771}}–256 BC)

|0.2200

|1.3200

|396.00

0.2270

|1.3620

|408.60

0.2310

|1.3860

|415.80

Qin ({{Circa|221}}–206 BC)

|0.2260

|1.3560

|406.80Schinz, p. 476. 415.80Dubs (1938), pp. 276-280; (1955), p. 160, n. 7.Hulsewé (1961), pp. 206–207.

rowspan="2" valign="top"|Han ({{Circa|202 BC}}–9 AD; 25–220 AD)

|0.2300

|1.3800

|414.00

0.2381

|1.4286

|415.80Hill (2015), "About the Measurements", pp. xxiii-xxiv. 415.80 428.58

Wei - Sui ({{Circa|220}}–266 AD; 581 to 618 AD)

|0.2550

|1.5300

|459.00

rowspan="2" valign="top"|Tang ({{Circa|618}}–690 AD; 705–907 AD)

|0.2465

|1.2325

|369.75

|443.70

0.2955

|1.4775

|443.25

|531.90

Song ({{Circa|960}}–1279 AD)

|0.2700

|1.3500

|405.00

|486.00

Northern Song ({{Circa|960}}–1127 AD)

|0.3080

|1.5400

|462.00

|554.40

Ming ({{Circa|1368}}–1644 AD)

|0.3008–0.3190

|1.5040–1.5950

|451.20–478.50

|541.44–574.20

Qing ({{Circa|1636}}–1912 AD)

|0.3080–0.3352

|1.5400–1.6760

|462.00–503.89

|554.40–603.46

Modern Chinese units

All "metric values" given in the tables are exact unless otherwise specified by the approximation sign '~'.

Certain units are also listed at List of Chinese classifiers → Measurement units.

File:ROC1915-01-06--01-16政府公報956--965.pdf

= Length =

==Chinese length units promulgated in 1915==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese length units promulgated in 1915

!Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|háo

|align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}}

|align=right|{{frac|{{val|10000}}}}

|align=right|32 μm

|align=right|{{val|0.00126|u=in}}

|align=right|

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|釐}} (T) or {{lang|zh|厘}} (S)

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=right|0.32 mm

|align=right|0.0126 in

|align=right|

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|分}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=right|3.2 mm

|align=right|0.126 in

|align=right|

align=center|cùn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|寸}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=right|32 mm

|align=right|1.26 in

|align=left|Chinese inch

align=center|chǐ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|尺}}

|align=right|1

|align=right|0.32 m

|align=right|12.6 in

|align=left|Chinese foot

align=center|bù

|align=right|{{lang|zh|步}}

|align=right|5

|align=right|1.6 m

|align=right|5.2 ft

|align=left|Chinese pace

align=center|zhàng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|丈}}

|align=right|10

|align=right|3.2 m

|align=right|3.50 yd

|align=left|Chinese yard

align=center|yǐn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|引}}

|align=right|100

|align=right|32 m

|align=right|35.0 yd

|align=right|

align=center|lǐ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|里}}

|align=right|1800

|align=right|576 m

|align=right|630 yd

|align=left|Chinese mile, this li is not the small li above,
which has a different character and tone

==Chinese length units effective in 1930==

File:ROC1929-02-20國民政府公報97.pdf

File:Chinese-measuring-tape.jpg

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese length units effective in 1930

!Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|háo

|align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}}

|align=right|{{frac|10 000}}

|align=right|{{frac|33|1|3}} μm

|align=right|{{val|0.00131|u=in}}

|align=left|Chinese mil

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|釐}} (T) or {{lang|zh|厘}} (S)

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=right|{{frac|3}} mm

|align=right|0.0131 in

|align=left|Chinese calibre

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市分}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=right|{{frac|3|1|3}} mm

|align=right|0.1312 in

|align=left|Chinese line

align=center|cùn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市寸}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=right|{{frac|3|1|3}} cm

|align=right|1.312 in

|align=left|Chinese inch

align=center|chǐ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市尺}}

|align=right|1

|align=right|{{frac|33|1|3}} cm

|align=right|13.12 in

|align=left|Chinese foot

align=center|zhàng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市丈}}

|align=right|10

|align=right|{{frac|3|1|3}} m

|align=right|3.645 yd

|align=left|Chinese yard

align=center|yǐn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|引}}

|align=right|100

|align=right|{{frac|33|1|3}} m

|align=right|36.45 yd

|align=left|Chinese chain

align=center|lǐ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市里}}

|align=right|1500

|align=right|500 m

|align=right|546.8 yd

|align=left|Chinese mile, this li is not the small li above,
which has a different character and tone

==Metric length units==

The Chinese word for metre is {{lang|zh|米}} mǐ; this can take the Chinese standard SI prefixes (for "kilo-", "centi-", etc.). A kilometre, however, may also be called {{lang|zh|公里}} gōnglǐ, i.e. a metric lǐ.

In the engineering field, traditional units are rounded up to metric units. For example, the Chinese word {{lang|zh|絲}} (T) or {{lang|zh|丝}} (S) sī is used to express 0.01 mm.

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese length units in engineering !Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=right \|align=center\|hū \|{{lang\|zh\|忽}}	{{frac\|{{val\|1000000}}}}	1 μm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|微米}}
align=right \|align=center\|sī \|{{lang\|zh\|絲}} (T) or {{lang\|zh\|丝}} (S)	{{frac\|{{val\|100000}}}}	10 μm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|忽米}}
align=right \|align=center\|háo \|{{lang\|zh\|毫}}	{{frac\|{{val\|10000}}}}	100 μm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|絲米}} (T) or {{lang\|zh\|丝米}} (S)
align=right \|align=center\|lí \|{{lang\|zh\|釐}} (T) or {{lang\|zh\|厘}} (S)	{{frac\|1000}}	1 mm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|毫米}}
align=right \|align=center\|fēn \|{{lang\|zh\|公分}}	{{frac\|100}}	10 mm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|釐米}}(T) or {{lang\|zh\|厘米}}(S)
align=right \|align=center\|cùn \|{{lang\|zh\|公寸}}	{{frac\|10}}	100 mm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|分米}}
align=right \|align=center\|chǐ \|{{lang\|zh\|公尺}}	1	1 m	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|米}}
align=right \|align=center\|Zhàng \|{{lang\|zh\|公丈}}	10	10 m	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|十米}}
align=right \|align=center\|yǐn \|{{lang\|zh\|公引}}	100	100 m	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|百米}}
align=right \|align=center\|lǐ \|{{lang\|zh\|公里}}	1000	1000 m	\|align=left\|this li is not the small li above, which has a different character and tone

== Hong Kong and Macau length units ==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese length units in Hong Kong and Macau

!Jyutping

!Character

!English

!Portuguese

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align="center" |fan1

| align="right" |{{lang|zh-hant|分}}

| align="center" |fan

|align=left|condorim

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=right|{{val|3.71475|u=mm}}

|align=right|0.1463 in

|align=right|

align="center" |cyun3

| align="right" |{{lang|zh|寸}}

| align="center" |tsun

|align=left|ponto

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=right|{{val|37.1475|u=mm}}

|align=right|1.463 in

|align=right|Hong Kong and Macau inch

align="center" |cek3

| align="right" |{{lang|zh|尺}}

| align="center" |chek

|align=left|côvado

|align=right|1

|align=right|{{val|371.475|u=mm}}

|align=right|1.219 ft

|align=left|Hong Kong and Macau foot

These correspond to the measures listed simply as "China" in The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations

{{citation

|author = W. S. B. Woolhouse

|author-link = Wesley S. B. Woolhouse

|title = The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations (And an Analysis of the Christian, Hebrew, and Mahometan Calendars)

|year=1859

|publisher = J. Weale

|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4252729;view=1up;seq=71

}}

=== Area ===

==Chinese area units promulgated in 1915==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese area units promulgated in 1915

!Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|háo

|align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}}

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=left|0.6144 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|0.7348 sq yd

|align=right|

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|釐}} (T) or {{lang|zh|厘}} (S)

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=left|6.144 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|7.348 sq yd

|align=right|

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|分}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=left|61.44 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|73.48 sq yd

|align=right|

align=center|mǔ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|畝}} (T) or {{lang|zh|亩}} (S)

|align=right|1

|align=left|614.4 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|734.82 sq yd

|align=right|Chinese acre, or 60 square zhang

align=center|qǐng

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|頃}} (T) or {{lang|zh|顷}} (S)

|align=right|100

|align=left|6.144 ha

|align=left|15.18 acre

|align=right|Chinese hide

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese square units effective in 1915
Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|fāng cùn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|方寸}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|100}} \|align=left\|10.24 cm{{sup\|2}} \|align=left\|1.587 sq in \|align=right\|square cun
align=center\|fāng chǐ \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|方尺}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=left\|0.1024 m{{sup\|2}} \|align=left\|1.102 sq ft \|align=right\|square chi
align=center\|fāng zhàng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|方丈}} \|align=right\|100 \|align=left\|10.24 m{{sup\|2}} \|align=left\|110.2 sq ft \|align=right\|square zhang

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese square units effective in 1915

Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|fāng cùn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|方寸}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=left|10.24 cm{{sup|2}}

|align=left|1.587 sq in

|align=right|square cun

align=center|fāng chǐ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|方尺}}

|align=right|1

|align=left|0.1024 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|1.102 sq ft

|align=right|square chi

align=center|fāng zhàng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|方丈}}

|align=right|100

|align=left|10.24 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|110.2 sq ft

|align=right|square zhang

==Chinese area units effective in 1930==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese area units effective in 1930

!Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|háo

|align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}}

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=left|{{frac|2|3}} m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|7.18 sq ft

|align=right|

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|釐}} (T) or {{lang|zh|厘}} (S)

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=left|{{frac|6|2|3}} m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|7.973 sq yd

|align=right|

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市分}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=left|{{frac|66|2|3}} m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|79.73 sq yd

|align=right|

align=center|{{anchor|mu}}mǔ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|畝}} (T) or {{lang|zh|亩}} (S)

|align=right|1

|align=left|{{frac|666|2|3}} m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|797.3 sq yd
0.1647 acre

|align=right|Chinese acre
6000 square chi per Article 5 of the 1930 Law (六千平方尺定為一畝)
60 square zhang
1/15 of a hectare

align=center|qǐng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|頃}} (T) or {{lang|zh|顷}} (S)

|align=right|100

|align=left|{{frac|6|2|3}} ha

|align=left|16.47 acre

|align=right|Chinese hide

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese square units effective in 1930
Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|fāng cùn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|方寸}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|100}} \|align=left\|{{frac\|11\|1\|9}} cm{{sup\|2}} \|align=left\|1.722 sq in \|align=right\|square cun
align=center\|fāng chǐ \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|方尺}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=left\|{{frac\|9}} m{{sup\|2}} \|align=left\|172.2 sq in 1.196 sq ft \|align=right\|square chi
align=center\|fāng zhàng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|方丈}} \|align=right\|100 \|align=left\|{{frac\|11\|1\|9}} m{{sup\|2}} \|align=left\|119.6 sq ft 13.29 sq yd \|align=right\|square zhang

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese square units effective in 1930

Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|fāng cùn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|方寸}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=left|{{frac|11|1|9}} cm{{sup|2}}

|align=left|1.722 sq in

|align=right|square cun

align=center|fāng chǐ

|align=right|{{lang|zh|方尺}}

|align=right|1

|align=left|{{frac|9}} m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|172.2 sq in
1.196 sq ft

|align=right|square chi

align=center|fāng zhàng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|方丈}}

|align=right|100

|align=left|{{frac|11|1|9}} m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|119.6 sq ft
13.29 sq yd

|align=right|square zhang

==Metric and other area units==

Metric and other standard length units can be squared by the addition of the prefix {{lang|zh|平方}} píngfāng. For example, a square kilometre is {{lang|zh-hant|平方公里}} píngfāng gōnglǐ.

== Macau area units ==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese area units in Macau

!Jyutping

!Portuguese

!Character

!Relative value

!Relation to the Traditional Chinese Units (Macau)

!Metric value

!Imperial value

align=center|cek3

| align="left" |côvado

| align="right" |{{lang|zh|尺}}

|align=right|{{frac|6000}}

| align="right" |{{frac|25}}{{lang|zh|鋪}}

| align="left" |0.1269 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|1.366 sq ft

align=center|pou3

| align="left" |

| align="right" |{{lang|zh|鋪}}

|align=right|{{frac|240}}

| align="right" |{{frac|4}}{{lang|zh|丈}}

| align="left" |3.1725 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|34.15 sq ft
3.794 sq yd

align=center|zoeng6

| align="left" |braça

| align="right" |{{lang|zh|丈}}

|align=right|{{frac|60}}

| align="right" |{{frac|6}}{{lang|zh-hant|分}}

| align="left" |12.69 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|136.6 sq ft
15.18 sq yd

align=center|fan1

| align="left" |condorim

| align="right" |{{lang|zh-hant|分}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

| align="right" |{{frac|10}}{{lang|zh|畝}}

| align="left" |76.14 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|91.06 sq yd

align=center|mau5

| align="left" |maz

| align="right" |{{lang|zh|畝}} (T) or {{lang|zh|亩}} (S)

|align=right|1

| align="right" |None

| align="left" |761.4 m{{sup|2}}

|align=left|910.6 sq yd

= Volume =

These units are used to measure cereal grains, among other things. In imperial times, the physical standard for these was the jialiang.

==Chinese volume units promulgated in 1915==

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1915
Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !US value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|sháo \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|勺}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|100}} \|align=left\|{{val\|10.354688\|u=mL}} \|align=left\|0.3501 fl oz \|align=left\|0.3644 fl oz \|align=right\|
align=center\|gě \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|合}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|10}} \|align=left\|{{val\|103.54688\|u=mL}} \|align=left\|3.501 fl oz \|align=left\|3.644 fl oz \|align=right\|
align=center\|shēng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|升}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=left\|{{val\|1.0354688\|ul=L}} \|align=left\|2.188 pt \|align=left\|1.822 pt \|align=right\|
align=center\|dǒu \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|斗}} \|align=right\|10 \|align=left\|{{val\|10.354688\|u=L}} \|align=left\|2.735 gal \|align=left\|2.278 gal \|align=right\|
align=center\|hú \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|斛}} \|align=right\|50 \|align=left\|{{val\|51.77344\|u=L}} \|align=left\|13.68 gal \|align=left\|11.39 gal \|align=right\|
align=center\|dàn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|石}} \|align=right\|100 \|align=left\|{{val\|103.54688\|u=L}} \|align=left\|27.35 gal \|align=left\|22.78 gal \|align=right\|

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1915

Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!US value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|sháo

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|勺}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=left|{{val|10.354688|u=mL}}

|align=left|0.3501 fl oz

|align=left|0.3644 fl oz

|align=right|

align=center|gě

|align=right|{{lang|zh|合}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=left|{{val|103.54688|u=mL}}

|align=left|3.501 fl oz

|align=left|3.644 fl oz

|align=right|

align=center|shēng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|升}}

|align=right|1

|align=left|{{val|1.0354688|ul=L}}

|align=left|2.188 pt

|align=left|1.822 pt

|align=right|

align=center|dǒu

|align=right|{{lang|zh|斗}}

|align=right|10

|align=left|{{val|10.354688|u=L}}

|align=left|2.735 gal

|align=left|2.278 gal

|align=right|

align=center|hú

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|斛}}

|align=right|50

|align=left|{{val|51.77344|u=L}}

|align=left|13.68 gal

|align=left|11.39 gal

|align=right|

align=center|dàn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|石}}

|align=right|100

|align=left|{{val|103.54688|u=L}}

|align=left|27.35 gal

|align=left|22.78 gal

|align=right|

==Chinese volume units effective in 1930==

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1930
Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !US value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|cuō \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|撮}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|1000}} \|align=left\|1 mL \|align=left\|0.0338 fl oz \|align=left\|0.0352 fl oz \|align=right\|millilitre
align=center\|sháo \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|勺}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|100}} \|align=left\|10 mL \|align=left\|0.3381 fl oz \|align=left\|0.3520 fl oz \|align=right\|centilitre
align=center\|gě \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|合}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|10}} \|align=left\|100 mL \|align=left\|3.381 fl oz \|align=left\|3.520 fl oz \|align=right\|decilitre
align=center\|shēng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市升}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=left\|1 L \|align=left\|2.113 pt \|align=left\|1.760 pt \|align=right\|litre
align=center\|dǒu \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市斗}} \|align=right\|10 \|align=left\|10 L \|align=left\|21.13 pt 2.64 gal \|align=left\|17.60 pt 2.20 gal \|align=right\|decalitre
align=center\|dàn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市石}} \|align=right\|100 \|align=left\|100 L \|align=left\|26.41 gal \|align=left\|22.0 gal \|align=right\|hectolitre

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese volume units effective in 1930

Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!US value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|cuō

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|撮}}

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=left|1 mL

|align=left|0.0338 fl oz

|align=left|0.0352 fl oz

|align=right|millilitre

align=center|sháo

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|勺}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=left|10 mL

|align=left|0.3381 fl oz

|align=left|0.3520 fl oz

|align=right|centilitre

align=center|gě

|align=right|{{lang|zh|合}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=left|100 mL

|align=left|3.381 fl oz

|align=left|3.520 fl oz

|align=right|decilitre

align=center|shēng

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市升}}

|align=right|1

|align=left|1 L

|align=left|2.113 pt

|align=left|1.760 pt

|align=right|litre

align=center|dǒu

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市斗}}

|align=right|10

|align=left|10 L

|align=left|21.13 pt
2.64 gal

|align=left|17.60 pt
2.20 gal

|align=right|decalitre

align=center|dàn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市石}}

|align=right|100

|align=left|100 L

|align=left|26.41 gal

|align=left|22.0 gal

|align=right|hectolitre

==Metric volume units==

In the case of volume, the market and metric shēng coincide, being equal to one litre as shown in the table. The Chinese standard SI prefixes (for "milli-", "centi-", etc.) may be added to this word shēng.

Units of volume can also be obtained from any standard unit of length using the prefix {{lang|zh|立方}} lìfāng ("cubic"), as in {{lang|zh-hant|立方米}} lìfāng mǐ for one cubic metre.

== Macau volume units ==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese volume units in Macau

!Jyutping

!Character

!Relation to the Traditional Chinese Units (Macau)

!Metric value

align=center|cyut3

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|撮}}

| align="right" |{{frac|10}}{{lang|zh-hant|甘特}}

|align=right| 1.031 L

align=center|gam1 dak6

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|甘特}}

| align="right" |{{frac|10}}{{lang|zh|石}}

|align=right| 10.31 L

align=center|sek6

|align=right|{{lang|zh|石}}

| align="right" |None

|align=right| 103.1 L

=== Mass ===

These units are used to measure the mass of objects. They are also famous for measuring monetary objects such as gold and silver.

==Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915==

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915
Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|háo \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|毫}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|{{val\|10000}}}} \|align=right\|3.7301 mg \|align=right\|0.0001316 oz \|align=right\|
align=center\|lí \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|釐}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|1000}} \|align=right\|37.301 mg \|align=right\|0.001316 oz \|align=left\|cash
align=center\|fēn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|分}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|100}} \|align=right\|373.01 mg \|align=right\|0.01316 oz \|align=left\|candareen
align=center\|qián \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|錢}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|10}} \|align=right\|3.7301 g \|align=right\|0.1316 oz \|align=left\|mace or Chinese dram
align=center\|liǎng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|兩}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=right\|37.301 g \|align=right\|1.316 oz \|align=left\|tael or Chinese ounce
align=center\|jīn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|斤}} \|align=right\|16 \|align=right\|596.816 g \|align=right\|1.316 lb \|align=left\|catty or Chinese pound

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915

Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|háo

|align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}}

|align=right|{{frac|{{val|10000}}}}

|align=right|3.7301 mg

|align=right|0.0001316 oz

|align=right|

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|釐}}

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=right|37.301 mg

|align=right|0.001316 oz

|align=left|cash

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|分}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=right|373.01 mg

|align=right|0.01316 oz

|align=left|candareen

align=center|qián

|align=right|{{lang|zh|錢}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=right|3.7301 g

|align=right|0.1316 oz

|align=left|mace or Chinese dram

align=center|liǎng

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|兩}}

|align=right|1

|align=right|37.301 g

|align=right|1.316 oz

|align=left|tael or Chinese ounce

align=center|jīn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|斤}}

|align=right|16

|align=right|596.816 g

|align=right|1.316 lb

|align=left|catty or Chinese pound

==Mass units in the Republic of China since 1930==

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of mass units in the Republic of China since 1930
Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|sī \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|絲}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|{{val\|1600000}}}} \|align=right\|312.5 μg \|align=right\|{{val\|0.00001102\|u=oz}} \|align=left\|
align=center\|háo \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|毫}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|{{val\|160000}}}} \|align=right\|3.125 mg \|align=right\|{{val\|0.0001102\|u=oz}} \|align=left\|
align=center\|lí \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市釐}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|{{val\|16000}}}} \|align=right\|31.25 mg \|align=right\|{{val\|0.001102\|u=oz}} \|align=left\|cash
align=center\|fēn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|市分}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|1600}} \|align=right\|312.5 mg \|align=right\|{{val\|0.01102\|u=oz}} \|align=left\|candareen
align=center\|qián \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市錢}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|160}} \|align=right\|3.125 g \|align=right\|0.1102 oz \|align=left\|mace or Chinese dram
align=center\|liǎng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|市兩}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|16}} \|align=right\|31.25 g \|align=right\|1.102 oz \|align=left\|tael or Chinese ounce
align=center\|jīn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市斤}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=right\|500 g \|align=right\|1.102 lb \|align=left\|catty or Chinese pound
align=center\|dàn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|擔}} \|align=right\|100 \|align=right\|50 kg \|align=right\|110.2 lb \|align=left\|picul or Chinese hundredweight

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of mass units in the Republic of China since 1930

Pinyin

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|sī

|align=right|{{lang|zh|絲}}

|align=right|{{frac|{{val|1600000}}}}

|align=right|312.5 μg

|align=right|{{val|0.00001102|u=oz}}

|align=left|

align=center|háo

|align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}}

|align=right|{{frac|{{val|160000}}}}

|align=right|3.125 mg

|align=right|{{val|0.0001102|u=oz}}

|align=left|

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市釐}}

|align=right|{{frac|{{val|16000}}}}

|align=right|31.25 mg

|align=right|{{val|0.001102|u=oz}}

|align=left|cash

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市分}}

|align=right|{{frac|1600}}

|align=right|312.5 mg

|align=right|{{val|0.01102|u=oz}}

|align=left|candareen

align=center|qián

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市錢}}

|align=right|{{frac|160}}

|align=right|3.125 g

|align=right|0.1102 oz

|align=left|mace or Chinese dram

align=center|liǎng

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市兩}}

|align=right|{{frac|16}}

|align=right|31.25 g

|align=right|1.102 oz

|align=left|tael or Chinese ounce

align=center|jīn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市斤}}

|align=right|1

|align=right|500 g

|align=right|1.102 lb

|align=left|catty or Chinese pound

align=center|dàn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|擔}}

|align=right|100

|align=right|50 kg

|align=right|110.2 lb

|align=left|picul or Chinese hundredweight

==Mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959==

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959
Pinyin !Character{{in lang\|zh}} [http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2011-11/09/content_1988933.htm 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China], [http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/shuju/1959/gwyb195916.pdf No. 180], page 316 !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=center\|lí \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市厘}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|{{val\|10000}}}} \|align=right\|50 mg \|align=right\|{{val\|0.001764\|u=oz}} \|align=left\|cash
align=center\|fēn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|市分}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|1000}} \|align=right\|500 mg \|align=right\|{{val\|0.01764\|u=oz}} \|align=left\|candareen
align=center\|qián \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市錢}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|100}} \|align=right\|5 g \|align=right\|0.1764 oz \|align=left\|mace or Chinese dram
align=center\|liǎng \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|市兩}} \|align=right\|{{frac\|10}} \|align=right\|50 g \|align=right\|1.764 oz \|align=left\|tael or Chinese ounce
align=center\|jīn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh\|市斤}} \|align=right\|1 \|align=right\|500 g \|align=right\|1.102 lb \|align=left\|catty or Chinese pound formerly 16 liang = 1 jin
align=center\|dàn \|align=right\|{{lang\|zh-hant\|市擔}} \|align=right\|100 \|align=right\|50 kg \|align=right\|110.2 lb \|align=left\|picul or Chinese hundredweight

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959

Pinyin

!Character{{in lang|zh}} [http://www.gov.cn/zwgk/2011-11/09/content_1988933.htm 1959 Gazette of the State Council of the People's Republic of China], [http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/shuju/1959/gwyb195916.pdf No. 180], page 316

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center|lí

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市厘}}

|align=right|{{frac|{{val|10000}}}}

|align=right|50 mg

|align=right|{{val|0.001764|u=oz}}

|align=left|cash

align=center|fēn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市分}}

|align=right|{{frac|1000}}

|align=right|500 mg

|align=right|{{val|0.01764|u=oz}}

|align=left|candareen

align=center|qián

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市錢}}

|align=right|{{frac|100}}

|align=right|5 g

|align=right|0.1764 oz

|align=left|mace or Chinese dram

align=center|liǎng

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市兩}}

|align=right|{{frac|10}}

|align=right|50 g

|align=right|1.764 oz

|align=left|tael or Chinese ounce

align=center|jīn

|align=right|{{lang|zh|市斤}}

|align=right|1

|align=right|500 g

|align=right|1.102 lb

|align=left|catty or Chinese pound
formerly 16 liang = 1 jin

align=center|dàn

|align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市擔}}

|align=right|100

|align=right|50 kg

|align=right|110.2 lb

|align=left|picul or Chinese hundredweight

==Metric mass units==

The Chinese word for gram is {{lang|zh|克}} kè; this can take the Chinese standard SI prefixes (for "milli-", "deca-", and so on). A kilogram, however, is commonly called {{lang|zh-hant|公斤}} gōngjīn, i.e. a metric jīn.

== Hong Kong and Macau mass units ==

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of Chinese mass units in Hong Kong and Macau

!Jyutping

!Character

!English

!Portuguese

!Relative value

!Relation to the Traditional Chinese Units (Macau)

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align="right" | lei4

| align="right" | {{lang|zh|厘}}

| align="center" | li, cash

|align=right| liz

|align=right| {{frac|{{val|16000}}}}

|{{frac|10}} condorim

| align="right" | {{val|37.79931|u=mg}}

|align=right| {{val|0.02133|u=dr}}

|align=left| Not defined in Hong Kong. Macanese definition may not be correct when dividing catty.

align="right" | fan1

| align="right" | {{lang|zh-hant|分}}

| align="center" | fen, fan, candareen

|align=right| condorim

|align=right| {{frac|1600}}

|{{frac|10}} maz

| align="right" | {{val|377.9936375|u=mg}}

|align=right| 0.2133 dr

|align=left| Macanese definition of 377.9931 mg may not be correct when dividing catty.

align="right" | cin4

| align="right" | {{lang|zh|錢}}

| align="center" | qian, tsin, mace

|align=right| maz

|align=right| {{frac|160}}

|{{frac|10}} tael

| align="right" | {{val|3.779936375|u=g}}

|align=right| 2.1333 dr

|align=left| Macanese definition of {{val|3.779931|u=g}} may not be correct when dividing catty.

align="right" | loeng2

| align="right" | {{lang|zh-hant|兩}}

| align="center" | liang, leung, tael

|align=right| tael

|align=right| {{frac|16}}

|{{frac|16}} cate

| align="right" | {{val|37.79936375|u=g}}

|align=right| 1.3333 oz

|align=left| Macanese definition of {{val|37.79931|u=g}} may not be correct when dividing catty.

align="right" | gan1

| align="right" | {{lang|zh|斤}}

| align="center" | jin, kan, catty

|align=right| cate

|align=right| 1

|{{frac|100}} pico

| align="right" | 604.78982 g

|align=right| 1.3333 lb

|align=left| Hong Kong and Macau share the definition.

align="right" | daam3

| align="right" | {{lang|zh-hant|擔}}

| align="center" | dan, tam, picul

|align=right| pico

|align=right| 100

|None

| align="right" | 60.478982 kg

|align=right| 133.3333 lb

|align=left| Hong Kong and Macau share the definition.

|Ding

|1000 kg

== Hong Kong troy units ==

These are used for trading precious metals such as gold and silver.

class="wikitable"

|+ Table of mass (Hong Kong troy) units

!English

!Character

!Relative value

!Metric value

!Imperial value

!Notes

align=center| fen (candareen) troy

|align=right| {{lang|zh-hant|金衡分}}

|align=right| {{frac|100}}

|align=right| 374.29 mg

|align=right| 0.096 drt

|align=left|

align=center |qian (mace) troy

|align=right| {{lang|zh|金衡錢}}

|align=right| {{frac|10}}

|align=right| 3.7429 g

|align=right| 0.96 drt

|align=left|

align=center| liang (tael) troy

|align=right| {{lang|zh-hant|金衡兩}}

|align=right| 1

|align=right| 37.429 g

|align=right| 1.2 ozt

|align=left|

= Time =

{{see also|Chinese calendar|Dates in Chinese|Traditional Chinese timekeeping}}

Traditional value	Modern value	Traditional value	Modern value
class="wikitable" \|+ Table of time units !rowspan=2\|Pinyin !rowspan=2\|Character !colspan=2\|Relative value !colspan=2\|Western value !rowspan=2\|Notes
align=right \| miǎo	{{lang\|zh\|秒}}		\| 144 milliseconds	1 second
align=right \| fēn	{{lang\|zh\|分}} \|100 miǎo	60 miǎo	14.4 seconds	1 minute
align=right \|rowspan=2\| kè	rowspan=2\| {{lang\|zh\|刻}} \|1 minor kè = 10 fēn	rowspan=2\|15 fēn	2 minutes 24 seconds	rowspan=2\|15 minutes, 1 quarter \|rowspan=2 align=left\|kè was defined at {{frac\|96}}, {{frac\|108}}, or {{frac\|120}} day during the Liang dynasty, and established at {{frac\|96}} day after the Qing dynasty.
align=right \|1 major kè = 60 fēn	14 minutes 24 seconds
align=right \| diǎn	{{lang\|zh\|點}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|点}} (S) \| 100 fēn	60 fēn	24 minutes	1 hour
align=right \|rowspan=2\| shíNachum Dershowitz, Edward M. Reingold, "Calendrical calculations", page 207	rowspan="2" \| {{lang\|zh-hant\|時}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|时}} (S) \|{{frac\|8\|1\|3}} kè	rowspan=2\|4 kè	2 hours	rowspan=2\|1 hour \|rowspan=5 align=left\| the xiǎoshí({{lang\|zh-hant\|小時}}, lit. minor shí) is currently a unit used to express "hour" in order to avoid ambiguity
align=right \|(pre-Qin) 10 kè	2 hours 24 minutes
align=right \|rowspan=2\| shíchén	rowspan=2\| {{lang\|zh-hant\|時辰}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|时辰}} (S) \|{{frac\|8\|1\|3}} kè	rowspan=2\| -	2 hours	rowspan=2\| -
align=right \|(pre-Qin) 10 kè	2 hours 24 minutes
align=right \| xiǎoshí	{{lang\|zh-hant\|小時}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|小时}} (S)	-	\| 60 fēn	-	1 hour
align=right \| rì / tiān	{{lang\|zh\|日/天}} \|12 shíchén	24 xiǎoshí	colspan=2\|24 hours	align=left\|1 day

Historiography

As there were hundreds of unofficial measures in use, the bibliography is quite vast. The editions of Wu Chenglou's 1937 History of Chinese Measurement{{citation |last=Wu |first=Chenglou |author-mask=吳承洛 |title=《中國度量衡史》 [Zhōngguó Dùliànghéng Shǐ] |date=1937 }}, 2nd ed. in 1957, 3rd ed. in 1993. {{in lang|zh}} were the usual standard up to the 1980s or so, but rely mostly on surviving literary accounts. Newer research has put more emphasis on archeological discoveries. Qiu Guangming & Zhang Yanming's 2005 bilingual Concise History of Ancient Chinese Measures and Weights summarizes these findings.{{citation |last=Qiu |first=Guangming |author-link=Qiu Guangming |author-mask=丘光明 |editor-first=Yanming |editor-last=Zhang |editor-mask=张延明 |title=《中国古代计量史图鉴》 [Zhōngguó Gǔdài Jìliàng Shǐ Tújiàn] |location=Hefei |publisher=Hefei University Press |date=2005 |isbn=7-81093-284-5 }}. {{in lang|zh}}{{nbsp}}& {{in lang|en}} A relatively recent and comprehensive bibliography, organized by period studied, has been compiled in 2012 by Cao & al.;{{citation |last=Cao |first=Jin |author-mask=Cao Jin |author2=Ulrich Theobald |author3=Hans Ulrich Vogel |author4=others |display-authors=1 |url=https://publikationen.uni-tuebingen.de/xmlui/handle/10900/47035 |title=Chinese, Japanese and Western Research in Chinese Historical Metrology: A Classified Bibliography (1925-2012) |publisher=Institute for Chinese and Korean Studies at the University of Tübingen |location=Tübingen |date=2012 }}. for a shorter list, see Wilkinson's year 2000 Chinese History.{{citation |first=Endymion |last=Wilkinson |author-link=Endymion Wilkinson |title=Chinese History: A Manual |year=2000 |publisher=Harvard University Asia Center |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-674-00249-4 |pages=244–245 |edition=2nd }}.

References

= Citations =

= Sources =

Hill, John E. (2015) Through the Jade Gate - China to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. Vol. I. John E. Hill. CreateSpace, Charleston, South Carolina. {{ISBN|978-1-5006-9670-2}}.
Homer H. Dubs (1938): The History of the Former Han Dynasty by Pan Ku. Vol. One. Translator and editor: Homer H. Dubs. Baltimore. Waverly Press, Inc.
Homer H. Dubs (1955): The History of the Former Han Dynasty by Pan Ku. Vol. Three. Translator and editor: Homer H. Dubs. Ithaca, New York. Spoken Languages Services, Inc.
Hulsewé, (1961). "Han measures." A. F. P. Hulsewé, T'oung pao Archives, Vol. XLIX, Livre 3, pp. 206–207.
[http://www.chinesetools.eu/tools/unit-converter/ Chinese Measurement Converter] - Online Chinese / Metric / Imperial Converter
[http://www.mandarintools.com/measures.html Chinese/Metric/Imperial Measurement Converter]
{{cite book

|last = Schinz

|first = Alfred

|title = The magic square: cities in ancient China

|publisher = Edition Axel Menges

|year = 1996

|pages = 428

|url = https://books.google.com/books?id=qhcRYkz-I3YC

|isbn = 3-930698-02-1

}}

Category:Customary units of measurement

Category:Science and technology in China

Category:Chinese units in Hong Kong

Category:Systems of units

Category:Units of measurement by country

Category:Standards of the People's Republic of China

class="wikitable" \|+ Table of Chinese length units in engineering !Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes
align=right \|align=center\|hū \|{{lang\|zh\|忽}}	{{frac\|{{val\|1000000}}}}	1 μm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|微米}}
align=right \|align=center\|sī \|{{lang\|zh\|絲}} (T) or {{lang\|zh\|丝}} (S)	{{frac\|{{val\|100000}}}}	10 μm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|忽米}}
align=right \|align=center\|háo \|{{lang\|zh\|毫}}	{{frac\|{{val\|10000}}}}	100 μm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|絲米}} (T) or {{lang\|zh\|丝米}} (S)
align=right \|align=center\|lí \|{{lang\|zh\|釐}} (T) or {{lang\|zh\|厘}} (S)	{{frac\|1000}}	1 mm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|毫米}}
align=right \|align=center\|fēn \|{{lang\|zh\|公分}}	{{frac\|100}}	10 mm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|釐米}}(T) or {{lang\|zh\|厘米}}(S)
align=right \|align=center\|cùn \|{{lang\|zh\|公寸}}	{{frac\|10}}	100 mm	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|分米}}
align=right \|align=center\|chǐ \|{{lang\|zh\|公尺}}	1	1 m	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|米}}
align=right \|align=center\|Zhàng \|{{lang\|zh\|公丈}}	10	10 m	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|十米}}
align=right \|align=center\|yǐn \|{{lang\|zh\|公引}}	100	100 m	\|align=left\|Authorized name: {{lang\|zh\|百米}}
align=right \|align=center\|lǐ \|{{lang\|zh\|公里}}	1000	1000 m	\|align=left\|this li is not the small li above, which has a different character and tone

Traditional value	Modern value	Traditional value	Modern value
class="wikitable" \|+ Table of time units !rowspan=2\|Pinyin !rowspan=2\|Character !colspan=2\|Relative value !colspan=2\|Western value !rowspan=2\|Notes
align=right \| miǎo	{{lang\|zh\|秒}}		\| 144 milliseconds	1 second
align=right \| fēn	{{lang\|zh\|分}} \|100 miǎo	60 miǎo	14.4 seconds	1 minute
align=right \|rowspan=2\| kè	rowspan=2\| {{lang\|zh\|刻}} \|1 minor kè = 10 fēn	rowspan=2\|15 fēn	2 minutes 24 seconds	rowspan=2\|15 minutes, 1 quarter \|rowspan=2 align=left\|kè was defined at {{frac\|96}}, {{frac\|108}}, or {{frac\|120}} day during the Liang dynasty, and established at {{frac\|96}} day after the Qing dynasty.
align=right \|1 major kè = 60 fēn	14 minutes 24 seconds
align=right \| diǎn	{{lang\|zh\|點}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|点}} (S) \| 100 fēn	60 fēn	24 minutes	1 hour
align=right \|rowspan=2\| shíNachum Dershowitz, Edward M. Reingold, "Calendrical calculations", page 207	rowspan="2" \| {{lang\|zh-hant\|時}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|时}} (S) \|{{frac\|8\|1\|3}} kè	rowspan=2\|4 kè	2 hours	rowspan=2\|1 hour \|rowspan=5 align=left\| the xiǎoshí({{lang\|zh-hant\|小時}}, lit. minor shí) is currently a unit used to express "hour" in order to avoid ambiguity
align=right \|(pre-Qin) 10 kè	2 hours 24 minutes
align=right \|rowspan=2\| shíchén	rowspan=2\| {{lang\|zh-hant\|時辰}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|时辰}} (S) \|{{frac\|8\|1\|3}} kè	rowspan=2\| -	2 hours	rowspan=2\| -
align=right \|(pre-Qin) 10 kè	2 hours 24 minutes
align=right \| xiǎoshí	{{lang\|zh-hant\|小時}} (T) {{lang\|zh\|小时}} (S)	-	\| 60 fēn	-	1 hour
align=right \| rì / tiān	{{lang\|zh\|日/天}} \|12 shíchén	24 xiǎoshí	colspan=2\|24 hours	align=left\|1 day

Chinese units of measurement#Chinese area units promulgated in 1915

History

=Republican Era=

=People's Republic of China=

=Hong Kong=

=Macau=

Ancient Chinese units

=Length=

Modern Chinese units

= Length =

==Chinese length units promulgated in 1915==

==Chinese length units effective in 1930==

==Metric length units==

== Hong Kong and Macau length units ==

==Chinese area units promulgated in 1915==

==Chinese area units effective in 1930==

==Metric and other area units==

== Macau area units ==

= Volume =

==Chinese volume units promulgated in 1915==

==Chinese volume units effective in 1930==

==Metric volume units==

== Macau volume units ==

==Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915==

==Mass units in the Republic of China since 1930==

==Mass units in the People's Republic of China since 1959==

==Metric mass units==

== Hong Kong and Macau mass units ==

== Hong Kong troy units ==

= Time =

Historiography

See also

References

= Citations =

= Sources =