How to Write 锱 (zī) — Meaning “ancient unit of weight (very small)”

Think of a tiny metal (钅) coin that is so small you can barely see it — that's 锱. The right part 资 looks like 'money' (资), and 锱 is a tiny unit of weight for measuring precious metals.

Pay attention to the right side 资: the top part is 亠 (a dot and a horizontal line), then 欠 (qiàn) with a second horizontal stroke that should not be too long. Also, the metal radical on the left has three horizontal strokes; the last one turns up as a hook.

锱 (zī) is a tiny unit of weight, while 铐 (kào) means handcuffs and 铑 (lǎo) is the chemical element rhodium. Visually, the right side differs: 锱 has 资, 铐 has 考, and 铑 has 老. Their pronunciations and meanings are completely unrelated.

锱 is rarely used alone; it appears in idioms like 锱铢必较, meaning 'to haggle over every tiny amount'. This idiom criticizes people who are overly concerned with small sums, reflecting the character's origin as a very small weight. It is a classical term not part of everyday HSK vocabulary.

Common words containing 锱 include: 锱铢 (zī zhū) — tiny amounts; trifles; 锱铢必较 (zī zhū bì jiào) — to haggle over every penny; to be very stingy; 锱介 (zī jiè) — trifles; small matters.