inch

JLPT N5 3 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily denotes a traditional Chinese unit of length, approximately 3.3 centimeters. It is often used in measurements of small objects or body parts.

Common Collocations

  • (cùn cháng): length in cun, used to specify size precisely.
  • (cùn bù nán xíng): an idiom meaning 'unable to move even an inch,' describing extreme difficulty.

Usage Notes

When used as a unit, is a precise measurement and appears in contexts involving tailoring, carpentry, or traditional medicine. In idiomatic expressions, it conveys limitation or difficulty. It is important not to confuse with other length units like 厘米 (centimeter) or (fen), which differ in scale.

Register and Tone

is a neutral term, suitable for both formal and informal contexts, especially in technical or descriptive language.

Example Sentences

This piece of cloth is two cun long.

His finger is only one cun long.

'寸步难行' describes walking with great difficulty.