钧 meaning and stroke order
Unit of weight equal to thirty catties; your (formal)
How to write 钧, stroke by stroke
9 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 钧
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- 30 catties
- great
- your (honorific)
How 钧 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Gold.
钅 gives the meaning and 匀 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 钧
钧 combines the metal radical 钅 with 匀 (yún), which gives the sound. Picture metal weighed out evenly on a scale, and you get a heavy unit of weight: one 钧 (jūn) is thirty catties.
Today 钧 appears mostly in set phrases and formal writing, not as an everyday measure. The best-known idiom is 千钧一发 (qiānjūn-yīfà): 在千钧一发之际，他救了孩子。(Zài qiānjūn-yīfà zhī jì, tā jiùle háizi.) At the critical moment, he saved the child.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 钧 with 均 (jūn, equal, average), which has the same sound and the same phonetic 匀 but uses the earth radical 土. Write 千钧一发 with the metal radical, because the idiom is about a heavy weight, not about evenness.
Common words with 钧
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 千钧一发 | qiānjūn-yīfà | (lit.) a thousand pounds hangs by a thread (idiom); (fig.) (at the) critical; perilous (mo | HSK 7-9 |
Questions about 钧
How many strokes are in 钧?
钧 is written with 9 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 钧 mean?
钧 (jūn) means unit of weight equal to thirty catties; your (formal). A common word with it is 千钧一发 (qiānjūn-yīfà), meaning "(lit.) a thousand pounds hangs by a thread (idiom); (fig.) (at the) critical; perilous (mo".
How do you pronounce 钧?
钧 is pronounced jūn, in the first tone (high and level).
What is the radical of 钧?
The radical of 钧 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 钧 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 钧?
The traditional form of 钧 is 鈞. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 钧 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 钧 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 钧 is part of the HSK 7-9 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 钧 used as an honorific meaning your?
In formal letters and old official writing, 钧 was placed before a word to show respect to a superior, as in 钧鉴 (jūnjiàn), a polite opening meaning roughly for your esteemed review. You will see it in very formal correspondence, not in daily speech.
Does 钧 appear in names?
Yes. Because it suggests weight and greatness, 钧 is a fairly common character in Chinese given names, especially for men. Its formal, dignified feel makes it a popular choice.