guī

圭

Character · Noun · Measure word

ancient jade tablet; gnomon; unit of volume; surname

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

4 senses · 6 examples
1.

noun

pointed-top jade tablet of ancient nobles

archaic

Used in formal ritual ceremonies in ancient China, symbolizing rank and authority.

Xī西
zhōu周
shí时
qī期
 ，
zhū诸
hóu侯
cháo朝
jiàn见
tiān天
zǐ子
shí时
huì会
shǒu手
chí持
yù玉
guī圭
 。

During the Western Zhou Dynasty, nobles would hold jade gui tablets when paying homage to the emperor.

Zhè这
jiàn件
chū出
tǔ土
de的
yù玉
guī圭
bǎo保
cún存
dé得
fēi非
cháng常
wán完
hǎo好
 。

This unearthed jade gui tablet is very well preserved.

2.

noun

gnomon; standard for measurement

formal

Refers to the gnomon of an ancient sundial or the standard for astronomical measurement, often used in formal academic contexts.

Gǔ古
dài代
tiān天
wén文
xué学
jiā家
lì利
yòng用
guī圭
biǎo表
lái来
cè测
liàng量
rì日
yǐng影
yǐ以
què确
dìng定
jié节
qì气
 。

Ancient astronomers used the gnomon to measure sun shadows and determine solar terms.

Zhè这
chù处
yí遗
zhǐ址
chū出
tǔ土
le了
yī一
tào套
wán完
zhěng整
de的
Hàn汉
dài代
guī圭
biǎo表
yí仪
qì器
 。

A complete set of Han Dynasty gnomon instruments was unearthed at this site.

3.

noun

surname Gui

neutral

A relatively rare Chinese surname.

Guī圭
jiào教
shòu授
shì是
wǒ我
men们
xué学
xiào校
de的
zhī知
míng名
xué学
zhě者
 。

Professor Gui is a well-known scholar at our university.

4.

measure word

ancient volume unit (1/100000 of a sheng)

archaic

Used exclusively in ancient Chinese metrology, no longer in modern daily use.

Zài在
 《
Hàn汉
shū书
 ·
lǜ律
lì历
zhì志
 》
zhōng中
jì记
zǎi载
le了
guī圭
zuò作
wéi为
róng容
liàng量
dān单
wèi位
de的
biāo标
zhǔn准
 。

The Book of Han: Records of Music and Calendar records the standard of gui as a volume unit.