Definition
量 (liàng) as a verb means 'to measure' or 'to estimate' — it's a general word for gauging size, amount, or temperature using a tool or judgment. It's less technical than 测量 (cè liáng, to survey/precisely measure) and more concrete than 估计 (gū jì, to estimate/guess without tools). Note: the same character is also a noun (liàng) meaning 'quantity'.
verb
to measureto estimate
Easily confused
- 埋máilook-aliketo bury
- 两liǎngsound-aliketwo (used before measure words or nouns that indicate quantity)
- 两liǎngsound-alike(numeral) two (used before measure words and units of time)
- 辆liàngsound-alike(classifier) used for vehicles
- 亮liàngsound-alikebright; light (in color or illumination)
- 凉liángsound-alikecool, cold
- 良liángsound-alike(adv, literary) very; used in set phrases before certain adjectives (多, 久, 苦, etc.)
- 晾liàngsound-aliketo dry (clothes, etc.) in the air
Examples
- 量。Nǐ liàng yíxià zhè zhāng zhuōzi de chǐcùn.Measure the dimensions of this table.
- 量。Yīshēng gěi wǒ liàng le tǐwēn.The doctor took my temperature.
- 量。Tā liàng le yíxià wǒ de shēngāo.He measured my height.
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