Chinese Measurements vs the Metric System (2024)

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Mass Length FAQs

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Chinese Measurements vs the Metric System (1)

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In ancient China the measurement system was quite different and they were often based off of body parts or local geographic features. So even though the name for each measurement was the same, they would vary widely between provinces. As the provinces (and the world) became more interconnected these differences had to be eliminated. There were several reforms leading to the current system which is somewhat related to the metric system. Officially, China is on the metric system, though the traditional Chinese measurements are still commonly used in everyday life.

Below are the most common measurements in both systems. Sometimes the character for the measurement is found in both the Chinese and metric systems. In these cases, 市 shì (from ‘market system’) is used to clarify that a measurement belongs to the Chinese system and 公 gōng is used before metric measurements.

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Mass

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Chinese

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市分

shì fēn

500 mg

市钱

shì qián

5 g

市两

shì liǎng

50 g

市斤

shì jīn

500 g

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Metric

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毫克

háo kè

1 mg

公克

gōng kè

1 g

公斤

gōng jīn

1 kg

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Length

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Chinese

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市寸

shì cùn

3.33 cm

市尺

shì chǐ

33.33 cm

市丈

shì zhÃng

3.33 m

市里

shì lǐ

500 m

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Metric

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毫米

háo mǐ

1 mm

厘米

lǐ mǐ

1 cm

ç±³

mǐ

1 m

公里

gōng lǐ

1 km

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Chinese Measurements vs the Metric System (2024)

FAQs

Chinese Measurements vs the Metric System? ›

Length. The metric system is used for all official purposes in Hong Kong, however, the imperial system is sometimes used in informal situations. The Chinese system's most commonly used units were

Li (Chinese: 里, lǐ, or 市里, shìlǐ), also known as the Chinese mile, is a traditional Chinese unit of distance. The li has varied considerably over time but was usually about one third of an English mile and now has a standardized length of a half-kilometer (500 meters or 1,640 feet or 0.311 miles).
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Li_(unit)
(li), 丈 (tseung/cheung),
The chi (Tongyong Pinyin chih) is a traditional Chinese unit of length. Although it is often translated as the "Chinese foot", its length was originally derived from the distance measured by a human hand, from the tip of the thumb to the tip of the forefinger, and is similar to the ancient span.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Chi_(unit)
(tsek/chek),
A cun (Chinese: 寸 ts'wun), often glossed as the Chinese inch, is a traditional Chinese unit of length. Its traditional measure is the width of a person's thumb at the knuckle, whereas the width of the two forefingers denotes 1.5 cun and the width of four fingers (except the thumb) side-by-side is 3 cuns.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cun_(unit)
(tsun/chun), 分 (fen/fan) in descending scale order.

Does China use cm or mm? ›

Does China use the Metric system? China does indeed use the Metric system. On road signs you will see distances shown in kilometres and not miles.

How is Chinese size measured? ›

Length
Metric SystemChinese SystemBritish System
0.5 km1 Li(里)0.31 mi
1.609 km3.218 Li(里)1 mi
1 m3 Chi(尺)3.281 ft
0.33 m1 Chi(尺)1.09 ft
2 more rows

Do Asians use the metric system? ›

Units of measurement in Asian countries. Almost all of the countries in Asia have adopted the metric system as their system of measurement ever since it became global, hence more practical. However, you might be surprised by how many of them still keep and actively use their traditional systems of measurement too!

Why is USA not metric? ›

The biggest reasons the U.S. hasn't adopted the metric system are simply time and money. When the Industrial Revolution began in the country, expensive manufacturing plants became a main source of American jobs and consumer products.

Does Japan use inch or CM? ›

Japan uses the metric system, the International System of Units (SI).

Why does China use 5.8 mm? ›

The People's Liberation Army claims that the 5.8×42mm is superior to the 5.56×45mm NATO SS109 and the 5.45×39mm 7N6; stating it has better armor penetration of 10 mm (0.39 in) at 300 m (980 ft), a flatter trajectory, and a higher retention of velocity and energy downrange.

What measurement scale does China use? ›

Officially, China is on the metric system, though the traditional Chinese measurements are still commonly used in everyday life.

When did China switch to metric? ›

On 27 February 1984, the State Council of the People's Republic of China decreed the market system to remain acceptable until the end of 1990 and ordered the transition to the national legal measures by that time, but farmland measures would be exempt from this mandatory metrication until further investigation and ...

Are Chinese sizes in CM? ›

The size of men's trousers is pretty simple, since sizing tends to be determined by waist measurements, and then by leg length. This can be a little tricky when purchasing from overseas, as the UK and the US use inches to measure trouser garments, but the rest of Europe and Asia measure in centimetres.

What 3 countries don't use the metric system? ›

There are over 195 countries in the world, and all but three of them use the metric system. These three countries – Liberia, Myanmar, and the United States – insist on utilizing the outdated imperial system.

Was America ever metric? ›

In 1866, the U.S. Congress authorized the use of the metric system and almost a decade later America became one of 17 original signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. A more modern system was approved in 1960 and is commonly known as SI or the International System of Units.

Do Japanese people use metric system? ›

Although the metric system is used in Japan, some traditional units of measurement are still in wide use as well. A common unit of area used when describing room size is jo (畳), which is the size of one tatami mat (around 1.6m²).

Will the US ever convert to metric? ›

Post-1994 federal law also mandates most packaged consumer goods be labeled in both customary and metric units. The U.S. has fully adopted the SI unit for time, the second. The U.S. has a national policy to adopt the metric system. All U.S. agencies are required to adopt the metric system.

Does NASA use the metric system? ›

Today, NASA adopts the metric system for all new projects. This policy, in place since 2007, ensures that most of NASA's current and future endeavors use the metric system. However, the legacy of the imperial system persists, particularly in the US segment of the International Space Station (ISS).

Does the US military use metric? ›

In the military, metric units are primarily used to ensure interoperability with allied forces, but also for ease of use. Ground forces measure distances in “klicks,” a slang word for kilometers. Most military firearms are measured in metric units (with a few legacy exceptions such as . 50-caliber guns).

What dimensions does China use? ›

I think other than our friends from the US, Liberia and Myanmar, everyone (including Chinese people) uses the metric system for measurement. That means kg is used for mass and weight.

How is distance measured in China? ›

Li (Chinese: 里, lǐ, or 市里, shìlǐ), also known as the Chinese mile, is a traditional Chinese unit of distance. The li has varied considerably over time but was usually about one third of an English mile and now has a standardized length of a half-kilometer (500 meters or 1,640 feet or 0.311 miles).

What monetary unit does China use? ›

Renminbi is the official name of China's currency. The renminbi's principal unit is the Chinese yuan. CNY is the official ISO 4217 abbreviation for China's currency.

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