尺

Étymologie et composants

The Chinese character 尺 (chǐ) for "foot" or "ruler" has a rich history and etymology. It is composed of two parts: the radical 寸 (cùn), which means "inch," and the phonetic component 尸 (shī), which is a pictograph of a person standing. The combination of these two components suggests the idea of a person using their foot to measure something, hence the meaning of "foot" or "ruler."The character 尺 first appeared in oracle bone script, the earliest known form of Chinese writing, dating back to the Shang dynasty (c. 1600–1046 BC). In oracle bone script, the character was written as a simple pictograph of a foot, with the radical 寸 added later to indicate the unit of measurement. Over time, the character evolved and simplified into its current form.In addition to its literal meaning of "foot" or "ruler," 尺 is also used in a number of figurative expressions and idioms in Chinese. For example, the phrase 一尺光阴一尺金 (yī chǐ guāngyīn yī chǐ jīn) means "time is precious," while the phrase 打肿脸充胖子 (dǎ zhǒng liǎn chōng pàng zi) means "to pretend to be rich when one is not."Understanding the etymology of Chinese characters can provide valuable insights into their meanings and cultural significance. By exploring the origins and evolution of characters like 尺, HSK learners can deepen their understanding of the Chinese language and gain a greater appreciation for its rich history and cultural heritage.