kavanin Posted January 3, 2012 at 12:56 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 12:56 AM 今年的小麦产量比去年增加了七千斤。 How should I understand it? The dictionary defines 千斤 as "1,000 catties." I believe catty (or catties) is a weight unit I'm not familiar with. So, is it 3500 kg or 7000 catties? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted January 3, 2012 at 01:42 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 01:42 AM A 斤 is half a kilo, so it's 7,000 half-kilos, or in other words 3,500kg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbradfor Posted January 3, 2012 at 04:02 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 04:02 AM Just to be pedantic: a 斤 is 500 g only in current Mainland China. It is defined slightly differently in other countries even now, and had different definitions in China in the past. And it should also not be confused with 公斤. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liuzhou Posted January 3, 2012 at 09:42 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 09:42 AM If you come across the term 斤 in any modern sense, it means 500g. "Catty" comes from Malay/Javanese and, according to the OED was "equal to 16 taels, i.e. 11/3 lb. avoird., or 625 grammes". Its usage is now archaic, but turns up in literature. (Has anyone ever heard anyone actually use "catty" in everyday speech, anywhere?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imron Posted January 3, 2012 at 10:21 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 10:21 AM Has anyone ever heard anyone actually use "catty" in everyday speech, anywhere? Yes, but usually referring to females, rather than as a unit of weight Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
liuzhou Posted January 3, 2012 at 11:52 AM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 11:52 AM Miaow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbradfor Posted January 3, 2012 at 02:37 PM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 02:37 PM If you come across the term 斤 in any modern sense, it means 500g. Unless you are, for example, in Taiwan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestTexas Posted January 3, 2012 at 03:09 PM Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 at 03:09 PM The textbooks I used when studying in the US were written by Taiwanese people and had 斤 listed as 1kg, I think. It really confused me when I got here. I thought all the locals were overcharging me for things. Then I figured out that 斤 is half-kilo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Wong Posted January 5, 2012 at 06:58 PM Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 at 06:58 PM Or unless it's in the context of "半斤八两“。 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kavanin Posted January 5, 2012 at 10:49 PM Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 at 10:49 PM Thank you all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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