秤

chēng, chèng
平 + 禾
HSK 2.0Level 6
HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

chèng (noun) steelyard; balance (for weighing)
chēng (verb) to weigh

Etymology

A balance 平 used to measure grain 禾

About

As a phono-semantic compound, 秤 pairs the grain radical 禾 on the left with 平 on the right, which serves as both a phonetic clue and a semantic hint meaning "flat" or "balanced". The grain radical reflects the ancient use of scales for weighing harvests in trade and taxation, while 平 conceptually mirrors the balancing action of a traditional steelyard. Originally naming the instrument itself, the character still means "scales" or "balance", and also functions as a verb meaning "to weigh".

Example Sentences Hide

桌子上有一个秤。

Zhuōzi shàng yǒu yī gè chèng.

There is a scale on the table.

妈妈用秤称了体重。

Māma yòng chèng chēng le tǐzhòng.

Mom used a scale to weigh herself.

超市里有一个公平秤。

Chāoshì lǐ yǒu yī gè gōngpíng chèng.

There is a fair scale in the supermarket.

这个电子秤很准确。

Zhège diànzǐ chèng hěn zhǔnquè.

This electronic scale is very accurate.

他用秤杆称了货物的重量。

Tā yòng chènggǎn chēng le huòwù de zhòngliàng.

He used the steelyard beam to weigh the goods.

为了确保公平，市场设置了秤。

Wèile quèbǎo gōngpíng, shìchǎng shèzhì le chèng.

To ensure fairness, the market set up scales.

如果秤不准，测量结果就会出错。

Rúguǒ chèng bù zhǔn, cèliáng jiéguǒ jiù huì chūcuò.

If the scale is inaccurate, the measurement results will be wrong.

现代科技使得电子秤成为了日常生活中不可或缺的工具。

Xiàndài kējì shǐ de diànzǐ chèng chéngwéi le rìcháng shēnghuó zhōng bùkě huò quē de gōngjù.

Modern technology has made electronic scales an indispensable tool in daily life.

Related Characters

Component: 平

评 苹 坪 砰 抨 怦 鲆 枰 評 閛 伻 匉 呯 泙

Component: 禾

和 种 利 科 程 称 委 积 香 税 移 秘 私 稳

Example Words

天秤 天秤座 杆秤 台秤 磅秤 秤盘 秤砣