吨

• Pinyin: dūn
• Hanzi breakdown: 吨 = 口 (mouth, phonetic indicator) + 屯 (phonetic)

Meaning

Ton; metric ton. A unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms.

The standard unit for measuring large weights in shipping, industry, and agriculture. Also used colloquially to exaggerate heavy weight. One metric ton (公吨) = 1,000 kg.

Examples

1. 这艘货船一次能运输五万吨货物。 This cargo ship can transport fifty thousand tons of goods at once.
2. 中国每年生产几亿吨钢铁。 China produces hundreds of millions of tons of steel every year.
3. 我吃得太撑了，感觉自己重了一吨。 I ate too much — I feel like I've gained a ton.

Usage Guide

Context: industry, shipping, measurement

Tone: technical

Do Say

• 重量是五吨。(The weight is five tons.)
• 年产量达到百万吨。(Annual production reaches one million tons.)

Don't Say

• '吨'用于大量货物——日常生活中买菜称体重用'斤'或'公斤'，不用'吨' (吨 is for large quantities — for daily shopping or body weight, use 斤 or 公斤, not 吨)

Origin & History

Phonetic loan from English 'ton' via Japanese, using 吨 with the mouth radical to indicate pronunciation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal