量 meaning and stroke order
To measure
How to write 量, stroke by stroke
12 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
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
Meaning of 量
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to measure
- capacity
- quantity
- amount
- to estimate
- abbr. for 量詞|量词[liang4 ci2], classifier (in Chinese grammar)
- measure word
How 量 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Unit.
里 gives the meaning and 旦 hints at the sound.
Radical: 里 (unit of distance equal to 0.5km), shared by 5 characters on this site.
How to remember 量
量 stacks 旦 (dàn, dawn) on top of 里 (lǐ), a traditional unit of distance. The data marks 旦 as the sound part and 里 as the meaning part, so picture someone at dawn setting out to measure the distance in 里.
As a verb meaning "to measure" it is read liáng, as in 量体温 (liáng tǐwēn, take one's temperature). As a noun meaning "amount" or "capacity" it is read liàng and appears in many common words like 数量 (shùliàng) and 质量 (zhìliàng). Example: 我们商量一下。(Wǒmen shāngliang yíxià.) Let's talk it over.
Common mistake: Learners often say liàng for the verb. 测量 (cèliáng) and 量身高 (liáng shēngāo, measure height) use the second tone, while 数量 and 重量 use the fourth tone. Also note that 商量 is usually said with a neutral tone: shāngliang.
Common words with 量
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 大量 | dàliàng | great amount; large quantity | HSK 2 |
| 商量 | shāngliang | to consult; to talk over | HSK 2 |
| 力量 | lìliàng | power; force; strength | HSK 3 |
| 尽量 | jǐnliàng | as much as possible; to the greatest extent | HSK 3 |
| 数量 | shùliàng | amount; quantity; quantitative | HSK 3 |
| 重量 | zhòngliàng | weight | HSK 4 |
| 质量 | zhìliàng | (physics) mass; quality (i.e. degree of excellence) | HSK 4 |
| 测量 | cèliáng | survey; to measure | HSK 4 |
| 含量 | hánliàng | content; quantity contained | HSK 4 |
| 能量 | néngliàng | energy; capabilities | HSK 5 |
| 热量 | rèliàng | heat; quantity of heat | HSK 5 |
| 衡量 | héngliáng | to weigh; to examine | HSK 6 |
| 音量 | yīnliàng | loudness; volume | HSK 6 |
| 产量 | chǎnliàng | output | HSK 6 |
量 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 量
Learning 量 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 量
How many strokes are in 量?
量 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 量 mean?
量 (liáng) means to measure. A common word with it is 大量 (dàliàng), meaning "great amount; large quantity".
How do you pronounce 量?
量 has more than one reading: liáng and liàng. The most common is liáng, said in the second tone (rising).
What is the radical of 量?
The radical of 量 is 里, which carries the idea of "unit of distance equal to 0.5km". Dictionaries list 量 under this radical.
Is 量 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 量 is part of the HSK 2 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard, and you are expected to write it by hand from HSK 2.
What does 量词 mean in Chinese grammar?
量词 (liàngcí) means classifier or measure word. These are words like 个 (gè) or 本 (běn) that go between a number and a noun, as in 三本书 (sān běn shū, three books).
Does 质量 mean quality or mass?
Both. In everyday speech 质量 (zhìliàng) usually means quality, as in 质量很好 (the quality is good). In physics it means mass.