30+ Common and Useful Chinese Units of Measurement You Should Know

Understanding Chinese units of measurement is essential for communicating in real-world contexts like shopping, cooking, building, and navigating distances. Whether you're reading a recipe, negotiating a price at a local market, or interpreting road signs, knowing accurate measurement terms boosts both your fluency and cultural competence.

This guide introduces you to over 30 of the most commonly used terms in the Chinese measurement system, covering length, area, weight, volume, and other essential units. Each term includes its Chinese character, pinyin, and English meaning, along with sentence examples and practice prompts to reinforce your learning.

 

 

I. Vocabulary for Chinese Units Measurement

This section presents grouped Chinese units of measurement by category to help you remember and apply them in structured contexts relevant to groceries, construction, medicine, and daily life.

1. Chinese Measurement Length

The Chinese units of measurement about length system includes both metric units and traditional terms still used regionally.

 

These Chinese units of measurement are frequently used online and in physical environments such as tailoring shops or construction sites.

2. Chinese Measurement Area 

Understanding how space is measured in China helps in real estate, gardening, and describing room size.

Real estate ads commonly use 平方米 and 亩. Land usage and agriculture still rely on traditional units.

3. Chinese Unit of Measurement Weight

The Chinese weight measurement system mixes modern metric with old-style terms like 斤, widely seen in wet markets and produce stands.

If you're buying vegetables, meat, or bulk items, you’ll frequently hear about chinese unit of measurement weight such as " 一斤萝卜" – "one catty of radish."

4. Units for Volume

For cooking, medicine, or logistics, volume Chinese units of measurement are useful in recipes and product packaging.

This vocabulary is essential if you’re applying doses, mixing liquids, or preparing drinks.

5. Other Common Chinese Units of Measurement

Several Chinese units of measurement don’t fit nicely into one category but often appear in daily speech or signage.

Measurements like " 三度水" (3 degrees water) or " 两块钱" (2 yuan) are part of intuitive, spoken Mandarin.

II. Example Sentences Using Chinese Measurement Units

Here are some real-world sample sentences using Chinese units of measurement to help you apply vocabulary in context.

Practice saying these aloud to internalize sentence rhythm and measurement placement.

III. Practice Exercises on Chinese Measurement Units

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks (Vocabulary Focus)

Instructions: Complete the sentences by filling in the correct Chinese units of measurement based on the hint in brackets.

1. 他每天早上跑 ___。 (5 kilometers – _______________)

2. 这个灯泡有100 ___ 的功率。 (watts – _______________)

3. 我的房间有二十 ___。 (square meters – _______________)

4. 今天温度有三十 ___。 (degrees Celsius – _______________)

5. 你应该每天喝两 ___ 水。 (liters – _______________)

Exercise 2: Sentence Matching

Instructions: Match each Chinese sentence (A–E) with its correct English translation (1–5).

Answers:

Exercise 1:

1. 五公里

2. 瓦

3. 平方米

4. 摄氏度

5. 升

Exercise 2:

A → 2
B → 5
C → 3
D → 4
E → 1

IV. Final Thoughts

Mastering Chinese units of measurement is a vital step toward building practical fluency in Mandarin. From ordering food at the market using 斤 (jīn) to understanding apartment sizes in 平方米 (píngfāng mǐ), these terms bridge the gap between classroom learning and real-world communication.

The 30+ units covered in this guide—spanning length, weight, volume, area, and specialized categories—form the foundation of everyday numerical expression in Chinese. While modern metric terms dominate official contexts, traditional units like 尺 (chǐ), 寸 (cùn), and 斗 (dòu) remain culturally significant and regionally common, especially in markets, construction, and agriculture.