Chi (unit)
Chi | |
---|---|
Chinese name | |
Hanyu Pinyin | chǐ |
Bopomofo | ㄔˇ |
Wade–Giles | ch'ih3 |
Tongyong Pinyin | chǐh |
Yue: Cantonese | |
Yale Romanization | chek |
Jyutping | cek3 |
Transcriptions | |
---|---|
Revised Hepburn | shaku |
Transcriptions | |
---|---|
Revised Romanization | ja |
McCune–Reischauer | cha |
Transcriptions | |
---|---|
Revised Romanization | cheok |
McCune–Reischauer | ch'ŏk |
Chi (China) | |
---|---|
General information | |
Unit system | traditional Chinese unit |
Unit of | length |
Conversions | |
1 chi (china) in ... | ... is equal to ... |
US units | ~1.0936 ft ~13.123 in |
Chek (Hong Kong) | |
---|---|
General information | |
Unit system | traditional Chinese unit |
Unit of | length |
Conversions | |
1 chek (hong kong) in ... | ... is equal to ... |
metric (SI) units | 0.371475 m ~371.5 mm |
imperial/US units | 1.21875 ft 14+5/8 in |
Chi (Taiwan) | |
---|---|
Unit system | traditional Taiwan unit |
Unit of | length |
Conversions | |
1 chi (taiwan) in ... | ... is equal to ... |
metric (SI) units | 10⁄33 m ~303.0 mm |
imperial/US units | ~0.99419 ft ~11.930 in |
The chi (Tongyong Pinyin chih) is a
.In its ancient and modern forms, the chi is divided into 10 smaller units known as cun (the "Chinese inch"). 10 chi are equal to 1 zhàng.[1]
Modern values
In the
In Taiwan, chi is the same as the Japanese shaku, i.e., 10⁄33 metre (11.93 in)[citation needed].
Historical values
The study of ancient
It is thought that the ancient Chinese astronomers also used chi as an angular unit; modern analysis of historical records indicates that it may have been equal to one degree.[5]
In the 19th century, the value of the chi, depending on the part of the country and the application, varied between 31 and 36 cm (12 and 14 in). According to an 1864 British report, in most of China the chi used by engineers in public works was equal to 12.71 inches (32.3 cm), the surveyors' chi was 12.058 inches (30.63 cm), while the value generally used for measuring distances was 12.17 inches (30.9 cm). In Guangzhou, however, the chi used for local trade varied from 14.625 to 14.81 inches (37.15 to 37.62 cm) – i.e., very close to the modern chek. The value fixed by a Sino-British treaty for the purposes of customs duties in Hong Kong was 14.1 inches (36 cm).[6]
Usage in Chinese language
Due to its long history and its widespread usage, chi (along with cun) has also seen metaphorical usages in the Chinese language. For example, chi cun (Chinese: 尺寸), a word made up of the units chi and cun, refers to the dimensions of an object, while the idiom "dé cùn jìn chǐ" (simplified Chinese: 得寸进尺; traditional Chinese: 得寸進尺; lit. 'gaining a cun and asking for a chi') means "extremely greedy".
In informal use in China, chi is also sometimes used to refer to the United States customary foot or British imperial foot.
References
- ^ Shuowen Jiezi (説文解字), "尺,所以指尺䂓榘事也。" East Asian usually makes spanning with his/her thumb and forefinger, instead of pinkie.
- ^ Cap. 68A WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDER ─ SCHEDULE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES CONVERSION TABLE (Hong Kong e-Legislation)
- ISBN 0-19-853936-3.
- ISBN 978-0-253-34028-3
- Bibcode:1987AcASn..28..397L.
- ^ Carrington, Robert C. (1864). Foreign measures and their English values. Potter. p. 22.