measure, volume

JLPT N1 12 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Usage and Meaning

The character (liáng) primarily means "to measure" or "amount/quantity." It is commonly used in contexts involving physical measurement, such as weight, volume, or area. It also frequently appears in abstract senses like workload or quantity of something.

Common Collocations

  • 工作 (gōngzuò liàng): workload, often used to describe the amount of work someone has.
  • 测量 (cèliáng): to measure, a verb combining (test) and (measure).
  • 体温 (liáng tǐwēn): to measure body temperature.

Usage Notes

When using , it often implies a precise or formal measurement rather than an estimate. It can be used as a verb or a noun depending on context. Be careful not to confuse with (liàng), which means "bright." The pronunciation is the same but the meanings and characters differ.

Tone and Register

This character is neutral in tone and appropriate in both formal and informal contexts. It is a common word in everyday conversation, especially when discussing quantities or measurements.

Example Sentences

Please measure the weight of this box.

His workload is very heavy; he works overtime every day.

We need to measure the area of the room.