cùn

寸楷

Word · Noun · AdjectiveTraditional寸

unit of length; very small

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 4 examples
1.

noun

cun (traditional Chinese unit of length, approx. 3.33 cm)

A traditional unit still used informally for some measurements (e.g., screens, tailoring).

Zhè这
kuài块
mù木
tou头
cháng长
sān三
cùn寸
 。

This piece of wood is three cun long.

Yī一
cùn寸
guāng光
yīn阴
yī一
cùn寸
jīn金
 。

An inch of time is worth an inch of gold.

2.

adjective

very small; tiny

literary

Used metaphorically to describe something very small or short.

Cùn寸
tǔ土
bì必
zhēng争
 。

Fight for every inch of land.

cùn寸
xīn心

a tiny heart (modest way of referring to one's feelings)