测量

• Pinyin: cè liáng
• Hanzi breakdown: 测 = 氵(water) + 则 (rule, phonetic); 量 = pictograph of a measuring vessel, meaning to measure

Meaning

To measure; to survey. The act of determining size, amount, distance, or other physical properties.

A more formal and precise term than 测 alone. Used in scientific, engineering, and professional contexts for taking accurate measurements. Applies to physical dimensions, distances, temperatures, and other quantifiable properties.

Examples

1. 工人们正在测量这条路的长度。 The workers are measuring the length of this road.
2. 医生用仪器测量了我的视力。 The doctor used an instrument to measure my eyesight.
3. 测量结果显示这座桥有五百米长。 The measurement results show that this bridge is five hundred metres long.

Usage Guide

Context: scientific, technical, professional

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我们需要先测量房间的面积。(We need to measure the room's area first.)
• 这个仪器可以精确测量温度。(This instrument can precisely measure temperature.)

Don't Say

• 测量一下他的性格怎么样 (Don't use 测量 for abstract qualities like personality — it's for physical measurements; use 评估 instead)

Origin & History

测 means to measure or gauge; 量 means to measure or weigh. Together they emphasize precise, systematic measurement.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal