How to Write 寸 (cùn) — Meaning “Inch (Chinese unit of length)”

Picture a small ruler measuring just one inch, with a dot at the end showing the exact measurement. The horizontal line (一) and vertical stroke (亅) together look like an L-shaped ruler. This visual can help you recall that 寸 means inch.

Write 寸 with three strokes: first a horizontal line from left to right (一), then a curved vertical hook (亅) starting from the middle of the horizontal and curving left, and finally a dot (丶) near the bottom left. Common mistakes include making the hook too straight or placing the dot too far away from the vertical stroke.

寸 means 'inch' and is a standalone character, while 对 (duì) means 'right' or 'toward' and has an additional component on the left (又) meaning 'hand'. Visually, 对 has two parts, whereas 寸 is just one radical. In usage, 对 is very common as a preposition, while 寸 is mostly used in measurements.

寸 is still used today in China to describe lengths, especially in phrases like 尺寸 (size) and 一寸 (one inch). Culturally, it appears in idioms like 寸步难行 (hard to move a step), which vividly expresses being stuck or helpless. Understanding this character helps learners grasp traditional Chinese measurements and expressive phrases.

Common words containing 寸 include: 尺寸 (chǐ cùn) — size; dimension; 寸步难行 (cùn bù nán xíng) — Hard to move a single step / Difficult to get anything done; 一寸 (yī cùn) — one inch (Chinese unit of length).