The fen (Chinese: 分; pinyin: fēn) in Mandarin, fan in Cantonese or hun in Taiwanese, is a traditional Chinese unit of length. One fen equals 1/10 of a cun or 1/100 of a chi. It is 3+1⁄3 mm in China mainland, 3.71475 mm in Hong Kong and 3.030 mm in Taiwan.
China mainland
| Pinyin | Character | Relative value | Metric value | Imperial value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| háo | 毫 | 1⁄10 000 | 33+1⁄3 μm | 0.00131 in | Chinese mil |
| lí | 釐 (T) or 厘 (S) | 1⁄1000 | 1⁄3 mm | 0.0131 in | Chinese calibre |
| fēn | 市分 | 1⁄100 | 3+1⁄3 mm | 0.1312 in | Chinese line |
| cùn | 市寸 | 1⁄10 | 3+1⁄3 cm | 1.312 in | Chinese inch |
| chǐ | 市尺 | 1 | 33+1⁄3 cm | 13.12 in | Chinese foot |
| zhàng | 市丈 | 10 | 3+1⁄3 m | 3.645 yd | Chinese yard |
| yǐn | 引 | 100 | 33+1⁄3 m | 36.45 yd | Chinese chain |
| lǐ | 市里 | 1500 | 500 m | 546.8 yd | Chinese mile, this li is not the small li above, which has a different character and tone |
Hong Kong and Macau
| Jyutping | Character | English | Portuguese | Relative value | Metric value | Imperial value | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| fan1 | 分 | fan | condorim | 1⁄100 | 3.71475 mm | 0.1463 in | |
| cyun3 | 寸 | tsun | ponto | 1⁄10 | 37.1475 mm | 1.463 in | Hong Kong and Macau inch |
| cek3 | 尺 | chek | côvado | 1 | 371.475 mm | 1.219 ft | Hong Kong and Macau foot |
These correspond to the measures listed simply as "China" in The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations
Taiwan
Length measure in Taiwan is largely metric but some units derived from traditional Japanese units of measurement remain in use as a legacy of Japanese rule.
| Unit | Taiwanese feet |
Metric | US & Imperial | Notes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taiwanese Hokkien | Hakka | Mandarin | Character | Exact | Approx. | Exact | Approx. | ||
| Hun | Fûn | Fēn | 分 | 1⁄100 | 1/330 m | 3.030 mm | 125/37,719 yd | 0.1193 in | Same as Japanese Bu |
| Chhùn | Chhun | Cùn | 寸 | 1⁄10 | 1/33 m | 3.030 cm | 1250/37,719 yd | 1.193 in | Taiwanese inch; Same as Japanese Sun |
| Chhioh | Chhak | Chǐ | 尺 | 1 | 10/33 m | 30.30 cm | 12,500/37,719 yd | 11.93 in | Taiwanese foot; Same as Japanese Shaku |
| Tn̄g | Chhong | Zhàng | 丈 | 10 | 100/33 m | 3.030 m | 125,000/37,719 yd | 9 ft 11.3 in | Taiwanese fathom; Same as Japanese Jō |
Taiwanese length units and the translation of length units in metric system (SI) shares the same character. The adjective Taiwanese (台) can be added to address the Taiwanese unis system. For example, 台尺 means Taiwanese foot and 公尺 means meter.
Compounds
- "分寸" is a Chinese word which literally means fen and cun, two traditional Chinese units of length; figuratively, it refers to the sense of propriety, or the proper degree for saying or doing something. For example, "说话要注意分寸。" (Pay attention to the sense of propriety in speaking.)
See also
- Fen (land)
- Chinese units of measurement
- Taiwanese units of measurement
- Hong Kong units of measurement
References
- Language Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (2020). 新华字典 （附录：计量单位简表）(Xinhua Dictionary (Appendix: Brief table of measurement units)) (in Chinese) (12th ed.). Beijing: The Commercial Press. p. 696. ISBN 978-7-100-17093-2.
- https://en.wiktionary.org/分
- "The Weights and Measures Act (1929)". Legislative Yuan. Archived from the original on 2014-04-25.
- Cap. 68 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE
- Law No. 14/92/M ((in Chinese) 第14/92/M號法律; (in Portuguese) Lei n. 14/92/M)
- W. S. B. Woolhouse (1859), The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations (And an Analysis of the Christian, Hebrew, and Mahometan Calendars), J. Weale
- Language Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (2016). Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (in Chinese) (7th ed.). Beijing: Commercial Press. p. 381. ISBN 978-7-100-12450-8.
- https://en.wiktionary.org/分寸