weight; heft; figurative importance, substance
Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma
Meanings
1 sense · 4 examplesnoun
weight; heft; substance
neutralOriginally a unit of weight (jin and liang). Now mostly used metaphorically to describe the substantiality, importance, or persuasive power of something non-physical, like words, arguments, or character. Often paired with '有' (have) or '没' (lack).
Tā他
de的
huà话
hěn很
yǒu有
jīn斤
liǎng两
，
zhí值
dé得
wǒ我
men们
rèn认
zhēn真
kǎo考
lǜ虑
。
His words carry a lot of weight and are worth our serious consideration.
Zhè这
piān篇
píng评
lùn论
wén文
zhāng章
méi没
duō多
shao少
jīn斤
liǎng两
，
quán全
shì是
kōng空
huà话
。
This commentary article has little substance; it's all empty talk.
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Zài在
tán谈
pàn判
zhuō桌
shàng上
，
shí实
lì力
cái才
shì是
zhēn真
zhèng正
de的
jīn斤
liǎng两
。
At the negotiating table, real power is the true measure of weight.
Bié别
kàn看
tā他
nián年
qīng轻
，
zuò做
shì事
què却
hěn很
yǒu有
jīn斤
liǎng两
。
Don't judge him by his youth; he handles things with great substance.