厚度

• Pinyin: hòu dù
• Hanzi breakdown: 厚 — thick; generous; 度 = 广 (shelter radical) + 廿 + 又 — degree; measurement; extent

Meaning

Thickness; depth. The measurement of how thick or deep something is, used both literally and figuratively.

Literally refers to the physical measurement of thickness. Figuratively used to describe the depth, richness, or substance of something — such as cultural 厚度 (cultural depth) or a person's intellectual substance.

Examples

1. 这块钢板的厚度不符合建筑规范要求，必须更换为符合标准的材料。 The thickness of this steel plate doesn’t meet building code requirements and must be replaced with materials that meet the standard.
2. 博物馆馆长认为，一座城市的文化厚度体现在其历史积淀和市民的人文素养之中。 The museum director believes that a city’s cultural depth is reflected in its historical legacy and the humanistic qualities of its residents.
3. 这部小说的思想厚度令评论界印象深刻，被认为是近年来最具分量的文学作品之一。 The intellectual depth of this novel impressed critics, who consider it one of the most substantial works of literature in recent years.

Usage Guide

Context: engineering, construction, culture, literature, figurative

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 工程师在选材时必须精确测量每种材料的厚度，以确保最终建筑结构能够承受设计所要求的各种荷载条件。(Engineers must precisely measure the thickness of each material when selecting components to ensure the final structure can withstand the various load conditions stipulated by the design.)
• 这位作家历经数十年的人生磨砺，其作品呈现出令人叹服的思想厚度，远非初出茅庐的年轻作者所能企及。(Having undergone decades of life experience, this writer's works display an admirable intellectual depth that young, debut authors cannot begin to match.)

Don't Say

• 厚度 as a synonym for 深度 in all figurative contexts — 深度 is more common for abstract depth of thought or analysis, while 厚度 implies accumulated richness or substance built over time; they overlap but are not interchangeable

Origin & History

厚 (thick) + 度 (degree; measurement) — the degree or measurement of thickness

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal