Definitions

zhū twenty-fourth part of a tael (2 or 3 grams)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character "铢" finds its origins as a denomination for a small unit of weight in early Chinese measurement systems, with its traditional form "銖" structurally composed of the metal radical "釒" signifying its association with metallic currency or weights, coupled with the component "朱" primarily serving a phonetic function. Originally referring to a concrete measure, often one twenty-fourth of a tael, its semantic scope broadened over time to encapsulate the idea of any minute quantity or trifling amount, thereby transitioning from a specific technical term to a more abstract lexical element used in literary and idiomatic expressions to denote insignificance or incremental accumulation.

Etymology Hide

Seal etymology image
Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)
Clerical etymology image
Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)
Traditional Modern
Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

是古代的重量单位。

Zhū shì gǔdài de zhòngliàng dānwèi.

Zhū is an ancient unit of weight.

古代中国使用作为货币单位。

Gǔdài Zhōngguó shǐyòng zhū zuòwéi huòbì dānwèi.

Ancient China used zhū as a currency unit.

这本书详细介绍了的历史。

Zhè běn shū xiángxì jièshào le zhū de lìshǐ.

This book details the history of zhū.

与两都是古代重量单位。

Zhū yǔ liǎng dōu shì gǔdài zhòngliàng dānwèi.

Zhū and liang are both ancient units of weight.

虽然现在已不常用,但它在历史上很重要。

Suīrán zhū xiànzài yǐ bù cháng yòng, dàn tā zài lìshǐ shàng hěn zhòngyào.

Although zhū is not commonly used now, it was important in history.

在研究古代经济时,学者们会提到

Zài yánjiū gǔdài jīngjì shí, xuézhě men huì tí dào zhū.

When studying ancient economy, scholars mention zhū.

如果你了解的价值,就能更好地理解古代文献。

Rúguǒ nǐ liǎojiě zhū de jiàzhí, jiù néng gèng hǎo de lǐjiě gǔdài wénxiàn.

If you understand the value of zhū, you can better understand ancient documents.

尽管这个单位微小,却在古代贸易中扮演了关键角色。

Jǐnguǎn zhū zhège dānwèi wēixiǎo, què zài gǔdài màoyì zhōng bànyǎn le guānjiàn juésè.

Although the unit zhū is tiny, it played a key role in ancient trade.