千克

• Pinyin: qiān kè
• Hanzi breakdown: 千 (qiān) — thousand; 克 (kè) — gram, originally meaning 'to overcome'

Meaning

Kilogram; a unit of weight equal to 1,000 grams. The standard metric weight measurement.

The formal or scientific term for kilogram in Chinese. In everyday conversation, Chinese people more commonly use 公斤 (gōngjīn), which means the same thing. 千克 is more often seen in textbooks, scientific writing, and product labels. In daily life, the traditional unit 斤 (jīn, approximately 500g) is still very common at markets.

Examples

1. 一千克等于两斤。 One kilogram equals two jin.
2. 这袋米有五千克。 This bag of rice weighs five kilograms.
3. 我的体重是六十千克。 My weight is sixty kilograms.

Usage Guide

Context: science, shopping, health

Tone: informational

Do Say

• 一千克等于一公斤。(One kilogram equals one gongjin.)
• 请称一千克苹果。(Please weigh one kilogram of apples.)

Don't Say

• 在菜市场不要说千克 (At the wet market, don't use 千克 — use 斤 or 公斤 instead; 千克 sounds overly technical in casual shopping contexts)

Origin & History

千 (qiān, thousand) + 克 (kè, gram). A direct translation of 'kilogram' — one thousand grams.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal