Taxonomy of meanings for 尺:　　

  • 尺 chǐ (OC: thjaɡ MC: tɕʰiɛk) 昌石切 入 廣韻：【家語曰布手知尺舒肱知㝷説苑曰度量衡以粟生之十粟爲一分十分爲一寸十寸爲一尺昌石切十一 】
    • LENGTH MEASURES
      • nabmeasure23.1 cm
      • ncpost-V{NUM}.post-Nclassifiermeasure: one foot, 23.1 cm
      • ncpost-V{NUM}length measure, "foot" , 23.1 cmLZ
      • npostadNby a foot (ca. 20 cm)CH
      • ncpost-V{NUM}.adNNUM chi3 longDS

    Additional information about 尺

    說文解字: 【尺】，十寸也。人手卻十分動脈爲寸口，十寸爲尺。尺，所以指尺 規 榘事也。 〔小徐本「榘」作「矩」。〕 从尸、从乙，乙，所識也。周制：寸、尺、咫、尋、常、仞諸度量，皆從人之體爲法。凡尺之屬皆從尺。 【昌石切】

      Criteria
    • STRING INSTRUMENTS

      1. The most current musical instrument in ancient China is the qín 琴﹣ lute which generally had seven strings. This instrument is played with both hands. With one's left hand one holds down the strings while one plucks with one's right hand.

      2. Sè 瑟 refers to a larger instrument than the qín 琴, and the number of strings was standardly 25. The strings were longer and gave a deeper and more sentimental sound. This instrument is also played with both hands, but here both hands are plucking and are able to produce more polyphonic effects.

      3. Zhēng 箏 refers to an instrument very much like a sè 瑟 native to the state of Qín but spread all over China, but the instrument typically has 13 strings. It is played in basically the same way as the sè 瑟, but gives a crisper sound. See illustrations.

      4. Zhú 筑 refers to a 13 string instrument which is not plucked but struck with a small bamboo object called zhú chǐ 竹尺.

      5. Kǒng hóu 箜篌 is a small harp with 25 strings first mentioned in Shǐjì.

    • DOCUMENT

      1. The dominant general word for everything written is shū 書. (However, note that the word also refers specifically to a letter.)

      2. Zhì 志 typically refers to a systematic coherent record.

      3. Jì 記 refers to an ordered record designed to serve as an aide-memoire.

      4. Jí 籍 refers to a formal and official record, typically a population register or a written official statute.

      5. Zhuàn 傳 refers to an explanatory record, typically a record based on or commenting upon other written sources.

      6. Lǎn 覽 refers to a comprehensive survey on a subject.

      7. Xí 檄 refers to a written military command.

      8. Sān chǐ 三尺 refers to the text of a law formally inscribed on large three-foot tablets.

      9. Cè 冊／策 refers to a document, typically in the form of a bundle of bamboo strips.

      NB: Xìn 信 "letter" is post-Han.