尺

chǐ

Chinese unit of length (approx. "foot"); ruler.

Meaning

Unit of length: A standard measure.
Physical instrument: The ruler used for measurement.
Standard/Measure: Metaphorically, a standard by which something is judged or regulated.

Grammar and usage

Functions as a noun or a classifier for length.
Not typically used as a verb ("to measure").

Distinctions

Distinguish between the quantity (distance) and the object (the tool).
In metaphorical contexts of "standard," this is less common than 度 (du).

History and forms

The physical length of the unit varied significantly across different periods (e.g., early Zhou vs. Han); it should be treated as a relative standard rather than a fixed constant, particularly in ritual or architectural contexts.

Translator notes

When appearing alongside 咫 (zhi, half a chi), the text is likely specifying precise distance. The use of 尺 alone may indicate a more generic or approximate measurement.

Decontextualized translator aid. This page describes plausible lexical range; it does not choose what the glyph means in a particular passage.