How to Write 测 (cè) — Meaning “to measure; to test; to survey”

Imagine you are at a river (氵) and you have a ruler (则) to measure the water depth. The left side looks like water and the right side looks like a measuring tool, so 测 = measuring water with a ruler.

The left radical 氵 should be written with three dots: the first two are close together and the third is a short stroke curving left. On the right, 则 starts with 贝 (shell/money) on top and 刂 (knife) below; make sure the 贝 has four strokes and the 刂 is aligned vertically. Common mistakes include making the water radical too wide or writing the right side's 刂 too far from 贝.

测 (cè) means 'to measure' and uses the water radical with 则. 㳄 (xián) means 'saliva' or 'to flow' and has water on the left with 欠 (yawn) on the right — it is very rare in modern Chinese. 汧 (qiān) is an ancient place name for a river and combines water with 开 (open); it is not used in common vocabulary. The main visual difference is the right-side component: 测 has 则, 㳄 has 欠, and 汧 has 开.

测 is very common in everyday and technical contexts, appearing in words like 測試 (test), 測量 (measurement), and 預測 (prediction). It is used in science, engineering, weather forecasting, and even in language exams (HSK tests). A cultural note: the phrase 不測 (bùcè) means 'unforeseen accident' (literally 'not measured'), showing how 测 can imply 'to anticipate' or 'to predict' as well.

Common words containing 测 include: 测试 (cè shì) — test; to test; 测量 (cè liáng) — to measure; measurement; 预测 (yù cè) — To predict / To forecast.