克
kè
In Chinese, the symbol for the gram, a unit of mass in the metric system, is 克 (kè).
克 is used to represent the gram in measurements of mass.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kè.
Did you know?
- In ancient scripts, 克 was written as a mouth or a mark over a sideways-standing basin. This image may have originally signified the act of overturning something.
- Beyond measurements, 克 is a common verb meaning 'to overcome' or 'to conquer'. This gives the unit of mass a hidden connotation of strength and victory.
- The character 克 is a phonetic loanword. While it now represents the 'gram', it was originally chosen to mimic the sound of the foreign word rather than to describe the weight.
Examples in context
- Gao (高)Tall
- 这颗糖只有一克。Zhè kē táng zhǐyǒu yī kè.This candy is only one gram.
- 请给我五十克咖啡豆。Qǐng gěi wǒ wǔshí kè kāfēi dòu.Please give me fifty grams of coffee beans.
- 这种盐的重量是五克。Zhè zhǒng yán de zhòngliàng shì wǔ kè.The weight of this salt is five grams.
Example conversation
Wei and Zihan are baking a cake together.
- 伟 Wei梓涵，我们需要多少面粉？Zǐhán, wǒmen xūyào duōshǎo miànfěn?Zihan, how much flour do we need?
- 梓涵 Zihan我们需要五百克面粉。Wǒmen xūyào wǔbǎi kè miànfěn.We need five hundred grams of flour.
- 伟 Wei好的，我来称量。Hǎo de, wǒ lái chēngliáng.Okay, I will weigh it.
- 梓涵 Zihan谢谢你，伟。Xièxiè nǐ, Wěi.Thank you, Wei.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 克, CC BY-SA 4.0.
