steelyard marks; graduation dots
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesnoun
small metal dots inlaid on the beam of a steelyard, serving as measurement marks
Refers specifically to the graduation marks on traditional Chinese steelyard balances (杆秤). The term can take the suffix 儿 (秤星儿) in colloquial speech.
Chèng秤
gān杆
shàng上
de的
chèng秤
xīng星
mó磨
sǔn损
le了
，
kàn看
bù不
qīng清
chu楚
。
The markings on the steelyard beam are worn and hard to see.
Zhè这
ge个
chèng秤
xīng星
shì是
tóng铜
zuò做
de的
。
This steelyard mark is made of copper.
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Lǎo老
chèng秤
de的
chèng秤
xīng星
shì是
yòng用
yín银
dīng钉
zuò做
de的
。
The graduation dots on old steelyards were made with silver nails.