寸 meaning and stroke order
A unit of length; inch; thumb
How to write 寸, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 寸
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- a unit of length
- inch
- thumb
How 寸 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A hand with a dot indicating where the pulse can be felt, about an inch up the wrist.
How to remember 寸
寸 shows a hand with a small dot marking the spot on the wrist where you feel your pulse, about one inch up from the hand. Think of that dot as a tiny measurement: one 寸 (cùn), a small unit of length.
On its own, 寸 is a traditional Chinese unit of length, but you will mostly meet it in words like 尺寸 (chǐcùn, size) and 英寸 (yīngcùn, inch). It also suggests something very small, as in idioms like 手无寸铁 (shǒuwúcùntiě, unarmed). Example: 这台电视是五十五英寸的。(Zhè tái diànshì shì wǔshíwǔ yīngcùn de.) This TV is 55 inches.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 寸 with 才 (cái) or 丁 (dīng). Remember that 寸 has a short dot to the left of the vertical hook, not a slanted stroke crossing it. Also, in 分寸 (fēncun) the 寸 is usually read with a neutral tone.
Common words with 寸
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 尺寸 | chǐcùn | size; dimensions; measurements (esp. of clothes); (coll.) propriety | HSK 4 |
| 分寸 | fēncun | propriety; appropriate behavior | HSK 7-9 |
| 英寸 | yīngcùn | inch (unit of length equal to 2.54 cm.) | |
| 手无寸铁 | shǒuwúcùntiě | lit. not an inch of steel (idiom); unarmed and defenseless | |
| 得寸进尺 | décùnjìnchǐ | lit. win an inch, want a foot (idiom); fig. not satisfied with small gains; give him an in |
寸 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 寸
Learning 寸 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 寸
How many strokes are in 寸?
寸 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 寸 mean?
寸 (cùn) means a unit of length; inch; thumb. A common word with it is 尺寸 (chǐcùn), meaning "size; dimensions; measurements (esp. of clothes); (coll.) propriety".
How do you pronounce 寸?
寸 is pronounced cùn, in the fourth tone (falling).
Is 寸 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 寸 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 3.
Is a Chinese 寸 the same length as an English inch?
No. A traditional Chinese 寸 (市寸) is about 3.33 cm, while an English inch is 2.54 cm. That is why the English inch is called 英寸 (yīngcùn), the British inch.
Why does 寸 appear in so many other characters like 对, 时 and 射?
As a component, 寸 often stands for a hand doing something. In characters such as 射 (shè, to shoot) and 封 (fēng, to seal), it points to an action done by hand rather than to the idea of an inch.