寸 Stroke Order — How to Write 寸
寸 is written in 3 strokes, following the standard Chinese stroke order. Start from the radical 寸, then complete the remaining strokes.
Stroke order matters in Chinese: it keeps the character balanced, and it is how dictionaries and handwriting input methods expect a character to be written.
寸 Pronunciation and Pinyin
- cùn
Meanings of 寸 in Chinese
1
cùn寸
A Chinese unit of length, one-tenth of a chi (Chinese foot); an inch.
请告诉我这件衣服的尺寸。
Please tell me the size of this clothing.
Referring to something very short, small, or limited, often used metaphorically to express a small amount or difficulty in progression, such as 'an inch of land' or 'unable to move an inch'.
在泥泞的道路上，汽车寸步难行。
On the muddy road, the car could barely move an inch.
Common Words and Phrases with 寸
1
a tiny step; an extremely short distance
在面对复杂的数学难题时，他经过一番苦思冥想，才艰难地迈出了寸步。
When confronted with a complex mathematical problem, after much deep contemplation, he finally managed to make a tiny bit of progress.
2
to stay very close to someone or something; to never leave one's side
小狗寸步不离地跟着主人，生怕一不留神就会走丢。
The little dog stayed close to its owner, never leaving their side, for fear of getting lost if it wasn't careful.
3
Refuse to yield an inch; never make any concession.
在这次新产品定价的谈判中，他寸步不让，坚持自己的底线。
In the negotiations for the new product's pricing, he didn't yield an inch, insisting on his bottom line.
4
Unable to move an inch or make any progress; to find it hard to move a single step, often metaphorically referring to being unable to proceed with work due to the lack of necessary conditions.
因为路面结冰，行人寸步难行。
With the road surface being icy, pedestrians found it extremely difficult to make any progress.
5
Small grass; metaphorically, something tiny or insignificant, often referring to a child's humble gratitude.
父母的养育之恩如同浩瀚海洋，我辈寸草之心，何以为报？
The nurturing kindness of parents is like a vast ocean; how can our humble efforts, like tiny blades of grass, ever repay it?
6
To leave no blade of grass standing, implying complete destruction.
那场森林大火过后，整个山头寸草不留，只剩下焦黑的树干。
After that forest fire, the entire hilltop was left without a single blade of grass, with only charred tree trunks remaining.
7
Not even a blade of grass grows; utterly barren.
这片盐碱地，长年累月寸草不生，庄稼根本无法存活。
This saline-alkali land has been extremely barren for years, with not a blade of grass or any other plant growing, making it impossible for crops to survive.
8
The profound and boundless love of parents (like spring sunshine), which their children (like tiny blades of grass) can never fully repay.
父母的养育之恩深重如海，子女即便倾尽所有，也难报寸草春晖
The nurturing kindness of parents is as profound as the ocean; even if children give their all, it is difficult to repay their immense love, which is as vast as the spring sun to a tiny blade of grass.
9
To be broken into many small pieces or segments; figuratively, to be deeply heartbroken or severely disrupted.
听到那个令人心碎的消息，她的心肝寸断，悲痛欲绝。
Upon hearing the heartbreaking news, her heart was torn to pieces, and she was overwhelmed with grief.
10
a small contribution
他在这个项目中虽然付出了很多努力，但总觉得自己的寸功不值得一提。
Although he put in a lot of effort in this project, he always felt his tiny contribution was not worth mentioning.
11
a writing brush
他用寸管蘸墨，在宣纸上勾勒出几笔山水意境。
With his small writing brush, he dipped it in ink and outlined a landscape on the Xuan paper.
12
a little progress; slight progress
学习新技能需要耐心，即使每天只有寸进，长久坚持也能见成效。
Learning a new skill requires patience; even if there's only incremental progress each day, persistent effort over time will yield results.
13
A skillful knack or precise technique; also, a fortunate coincidence.
他用了一点儿寸劲儿，一下子就把这个卡住的螺丝拧下来了。
He used a bit of subtle skill, and managed to unscrew the jammed bolt in one go.
14
Cun pulse (寸脉) is a pulse measurement point in Traditional Chinese Medicine, located at the wrist about one 'cun' (an ancient Chinese unit of measurement) proximal to the radial styloid process.
老中医通过诊察寸脉，判断出患者身体的气血状况。
The experienced TCM doctor assessed the patient's Qi and blood condition by examining the cunmai.
15
limited skills or meager abilities
尽管他深知自己寸善片长，但他从不气馁，总是努力学习，争取做到最好。
Although he knew his skills were modest, he never got discouraged and always strived to learn and do his best.
16
very small or minimal weapons; refers to having no weapons at all, like 'empty-handed'. For example, '手无寸铁' means 'weaponless' or 'unarmed'.
即使面对危险，他也坚持不带寸铁，相信沟通的力量。
Even when facing danger, he insisted on not carrying even the slightest weapon, believing in the power of communication.
More words with 寸
- chǐ尺cùn寸measurement; size
- shì市cùn寸Chinese inch, cun
- liáng量chǐ尺cùn寸Take measurements, Measure the size
- tóu头cùn寸Position, Fund
- yīng英cùn寸inch
- fāng方cùn寸Mind, Heart
- cùn寸yīn阴a brief moment, a fleeting moment
- fēn分cun寸Propriety, Discretion
- yí一cùn寸an inch, one inch
- yǒu有fēn分cun寸discreet, tactful
- cùn寸xiān先shēng生Mr. Cun, Mr. Inch
- měi每gè个chǐ尺cùn寸each size, every size
- zhǎng掌wò握fēn分cun寸know the limits, exercise discretion
- zhǐ纸zhāng张chǐ尺cùn寸paper size, paper dimensions
- cùn寸cǎo草zhī之xīn心Profound filial gratitude., A humble return for immense kindness.
- měi每yí一cùn寸every inch
- hàn焊hóu喉chǐ尺cùn寸Weld throat size, Effective throat thickness
- nèi内kóng孔chǐ尺cùn寸Inner diameter, Bore size
- xīn心gān肝cùn寸duàn断Heartbroken, Deeply grieved
- xiōng胸wéi围chǐ尺cùn寸bust size, chest size
Idioms with 寸
- cùn寸bù步nán难yí移unable to move an inch
- cùn寸tiě铁zài在shǒu手to have a small weapon at hand
- cùn寸tǔ土bì必zhēng争Contend for every inch
- cùn寸tǔ土bù不ràng让not yield an inch of ground
- cùn寸tǔ土chǐ尺dì地a tiny piece of land
- cùn寸tǔ土chǐ尺jīn金land is exceedingly precious and profitable
- cùn寸yīn阴kě可xī惜Every moment is precious
- cùn寸yǒu有suǒ所cháng长Everyone has their strengths
- chǐ尺cùn寸zhī之dì地a tiny plot of land
- chǐ尺cùn寸zhī之gōng功a small contribution or modest achievement
- chóu愁cháng肠cùn寸duàn断overwhelmed with extreme grief
- dé得cùn寸jìn进chǐ尺insatiably greedy
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Open the tool →Questions about 寸
What does 寸 mean in Chinese?
寸 (cùn) means “A Chinese unit of length, one-tenth of a chi (Chinese foot); an inch” in Chinese.
How do you pronounce 寸?
寸 is pronounced cùn in Mandarin Chinese.
How many strokes does 寸 have?
寸 has 3 strokes.
How do you write 寸?
寸 is written in 3 strokes, starting from the radical 寸. See the animated stroke order on this page.
What is the radical of 寸?
The radical of 寸 is 寸, and 寸 is an ideographic compound.