Jin (mass)

{{Short description|Traditional Chinese unit of weight}} {{Redirect|Catty}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox unit | name = Catty | standard = Chinese | quantity = Mass | symbol = {{linktext|斤}} | units1 = Mainland China<hr /> | inunits1 = {{val|0.5|u=kg}} | units2 = Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand<hr /> | inunits2 = {{val|0.6|u=kg}} | units3 = Vietnam<hr /> | inunits3 = {{val|0.6045|u=kg}} | units4 = Hong Kong<hr /> | inunits4 = {{val|0.60478982|u=kg}} | units5 = Malaysia<hr /> | inunits5 = {{val|0.60479|u=kg}} | units6 = Singapore<hr /> | inunits6 = {{val|0.6048|u=kg}} | units_imp1 = Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore | inunits_imp1 = {{sfrac|1|1|3}} lb }} {{Infobox Chinese | c = 斤 | p = jīn | w = chin | j = gan1 | y = gàn | poj = {{ubl|kin|kun}} | vie = cân | kanji = 斤 | hiragana = きん | romaji = kin | hangul = 근 | hanja = 斤 | rr = geun | msa = kati | mnc = ᡤᡳᠩᡤᡝᠨ | mnc_v = ginggen | mong = {{MongolUnicode|ᠵᠢᠩ}} }} The '''''jin''''' ({{zh|s=斤 |t=斤 |p=jīn}}){{efn|Alternatively romanized as ''gan'' in Cantonese, ''kin'' in Taiwanese Hokkian and Japanese, and ''geun'' in Korean.}} or '''catty''' (from Malay '''''kati''''') is a traditional Chinese unit of mass used across East and Southeast Asia, notably for weighing food and other groceries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chinese Units of Weight |author=Angie |publisher=Chinese Edge |access-date=2026-01-29 |url=https://chineseedge.com/chinese-units-of-weight/}}</ref><ref>{{cite dictionary |title=Oxford Chinese Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |p=376 |isbn=978-0-19-920761-9}}</ref> Related units include the picul ({{Lang|zh-Latn|dan}} or {{Lang|zh-Latn|shi}}), equal to 100 catties, and the tael ({{Lang|zh-Latn|liang}}), which is {{frac|16}} of a catty. The stone (also {{Lang|zh-Latn|dan}} or {{Lang|zh-Latn|shi}}) is a former unit used in Hong Kong equal to 120 catties, and a ''gwan'' ({{hani|鈞}}) is 30 jin. The catty is still used in Southeast Asia as a unit of measurement in some contexts, especially by the significant Overseas Chinese populations across the region, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore.

The catty is traditionally equivalent to {{frac|1|1|3}} pound avoirdupois, formalised as 604.78982 grams (g) in Hong Kong,<ref name="hk_law">{{Cite web |title=Weights and Measures Ordinance |url=https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap68!en?xpid=ID_1438403555032_004 |website=Laws of Hong Kong}}</ref> 604.5 g (historically) in Vietnam,<ref name="vietnamese catty">{{Cite web |title=Vietnam, weights |url=https://www.sizes.com/units/charts/UTBLVietnam_wts.htm |website=Historical Vietnamese measurements of mass}}</ref> 604.79 g in Malaysia<ref name="my_law">{{Cite web |title=Weights and Measures Act 1972 |url=http://www.kpdnkk.gov.my/akta-timbang-dan-sukat-1972 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201182503/http://www.kpdnkk.gov.my/akta-timbang-dan-sukat-1972 |archive-date=2014-02-01 |website=Laws of Malaysia}}</ref> and 604.8 g in Singapore.<ref name="sg_law">{{Cite web |title=Weights and Measures Act |url=https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/WMA1975#Sc3- |website=Statutes of the Republic of Singapore}}</ref> In Taiwan,<ref>[http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/2001/appendix6.htm Weights and Measures in Use in Taiwan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229224604/http://www.gio.gov.tw/taiwan-website/5-gp/yearbook/2001/appendix6.htm#|date=2010-12-29}} from the ''Republic of China Yearbook'' – Taiwan 2001.</ref> Japan, Korea,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Regulation on Approval and Notification of Herbal (crude) Medicinal Preparations, Etc. |url=https://www.mfds.go.kr/eng/brd/m_27/down.do?brd_id=eng0005&seq=70932&data_tp=A&file_seq=2 |website=Ministry of Food and Drug Safety}}</ref> and Thailand, the unit is rounded to 600 g. In China, the {{Lang|zh-Latn|jin}} is rounded to 500 g and called the '''market jin''' ({{lang|zh|市斤}}; {{tlit|zh|shìjīn}}), to distinguish it from the kilogram (called the ''common jin''; {{lang|zh|公斤}}; {{tlit|zh|gōngjīn}}), and is subdivided into 10 taels rather than 16.<ref>{{cite web |title=What is a Chinese Jin? |author=Angie |year=2024 |publisher=Chinese Edge |url=https://chineseedge.com/what-is-a-chinese-jin/}}</ref>

==History== In ancient China, the office of Sima ({{zhi|t=司馬}}) was in charge of military affairs. Because the management of military grain and fodder involved frequent weighing, mass units (such as {{Lang|zh-Latn|jin}} and {{Lang|zh-Latn|liang}}) were also called {{Lang|zh-Latn|sima jin}} ({{zhi|t=司馬斤}}), {{Lang|zh-Latn|sima liang}}, and so on. The measuring tools used were called ''sima scales'' ({{zhi|t=司馬秤}}). This is still true in Hong Kong. One {{Lang|zh-Latn|sima jin}} is equal to sixteen {{Lang|zh-Latn|sima liang}}, which is where the idiom "half a jin vs eight liang"{{efn|Idiom, {{lang|zh|半斤八兩}}, (chiefly derogatory) six of one, half a dozen of the other; not much to choose between the two}}<ref>{{Citation |title=半斤八兩 |date=2024-10-27 |work=Wiktionary |url=https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=%E5%8D%8A%E6%96%A4%E5%85%AB%E5%85%A9&oldid=82499052 |access-date= |language=en}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Wiktionary is insufficiently reliable (WP:NOTRS).|date=August 2025}} comes from.<ref>{{cite web |title=司马 (Sima) |url=http://xh.5156edu.com/html3/5371.html |publisher=在线新华字典 (Xinhua Dictionary on Line) |language=Chinese }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor=黄文照，张云然编 (Huang Wenzhao and Zhang Yuenran. |title=中外计量换算手册[M] (Handbook of conversion between measurement units in China and abroad). |place=Beijing |publisher=Commercial Press |year=2007|language=Chinese}} </ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ {{lang|zh-Latn|Jin}} size throughout Chinese history ! Dynasty !! Mass in grams |- | Pre-Qin<ref name="大辞典先秦">{{cite book |author1="中国钱币大辞典" 编纂委 (Editorial Committee of the Chinese Coin Dictionary) |title=中国钱币大辞典·先秦篇 (Chinese Coin Dictionary: Pre-Qin Period) |date=December 1995 |publisher=中华书局 (Zhonghua Book Company) |isbn=9787101012415}}</ref> | 250 |- | Qin | 253 |- | Western Han | 248 |- | Eastern Han, Three Kingdoms, Jin | 220 |- | Northern and Southern dynasties |{{bulleted list|Liang, Chen, West Liang: 220 |Southern Qi: 330 |Northern Wei, Northern Qi: 440 |Northern Zhou: 660}} |- | Sui dynasty | 661 (large system), 220 (small system) |- | Tang dynasty | 661 |- | Song dynasty, Yuan dynasty | 633 |- | Ming dynasty, Qing dynasty | 590 |}

The mass of the {{lang|zh-Latn|jin}} varies between different eras and regions, but its ratio to contemporaneous units is generally unchanged: one {{lang|zh-Latn|jin}} is equal to sixteen {{lang|zh-Latn|liang}}, or 1/120 of a ''dan''. Starting from the late Qing dynasty, the {{lang|zh-Latn|jin}} was also written in English as ''catty'' or ''kan'' based on the Malay name for the unit.<ref name="tong">{{cite book |title=唐字音英語 (Chinese character pronunciation in English) |author=莫文暢 (Mo Wenchang) |time=Early 20th century |language=zh}}</ref>

Before the Qing dynasty, various regions and industries in China had their own weight standards for {{lang|zh-Latn|jin}} and ''liang''. During the Qing, unified weights and measures were implemented. One late-Qing ''jin'' was 596.816 g according to the Beiyang government, and equal to 16 ''liang''.<ref name="ROC1915"/>

==China==

=== 1915 measurement law ===

On 7 January 1915, the Beiyang government promulgated a measurement law to use the metric system as the standard but also a system based directly on Qing definitions ({{lang|zh|营造尺库平制}}),<ref name="ROC1915">{{citation |contribution-url=http://gaz.ncl.edu.tw/eng/detail.jsp?sysid=D1500002 |contribution=權度法 [''Quándù Fǎ''] |title=政府公報 [''Zhèngfǔ Gōngbào'', ''Government Gazette''] |location=Beijing |volume=957 |publisher=Office of the President |date=7 January 1915 |pages=85–94 }}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }} {{in lang|zh}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=World weights and measures; handbook for statisticians |series=United Nations. Document ST/STAT/ Ser. M/ ;21 |date=1955 |editor=the Statistical Office of the United Nations in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015030989050&seq=86 |page=48}} </ref> with the {{lang|zh-Latn|liang}} as the base unit.

{|class="wikitable" |+ Chinese mass units promulgated in 1915<ref name="ROC1915" /> |- !Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes |- |align=center|''háo'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}} |align=right|{{frac|{{val|10000}}}} |align=right|3.7301 mg |align=right|0.0001316 oz |align=right| |- |align=center|''lí'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|釐}} |align=right|{{frac|1000}} |align=right|37.301 mg |align=right|0.001316 oz |align=left|cash |- |align=center|''fēn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|分}} |align=right|{{frac|100}} |align=right|373.01 mg |align=right|0.01316 oz |align=left|candareen |- |align=center|''qián'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|錢}} |align=right|{{frac|10}} |align=right|3.7301 g |align=right|0.1316 oz |align=left|mace or Chinese dram |- |align=center|{{lang|zh-Latn|liǎng}} |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|兩}} |align=right|1 |align=right|37.301 g |align=right|1.316 oz |align=left|tael or Chinese ounce |- |align=center|'''{{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}}''' |align=right|'''{{lang|zh|斤}}''' |align=right|'''16''' |align=right|'''596.816 g''' |align=right|'''1.316 lb''' |align=left|'''catty''' or '''Chinese pound''' |}

===Mass units in the Republic of China (1930–1959)=== {{Infobox Chinese |title =Market-unit system |pic=Classicchineseinstrumentscale.jpg |piccap=A traditional Chinese scale |c={{linktext|市制}} |p=shìzhì |w=shih-chih |l={{nowrap|market system}} |c2=市用制 |p2=shìyòngzhì |w2=shih-yung-chih |l2={{nowrap|market-use system}} }} On 16 February 1929, the Nationalist government adopted and promulgated ''The Weights and Measures Act''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Weights and Measures Act: Legislative History |url=http://law.moj.gov.tw/Eng/LawClass/LawHistory.aspx?PCode=J0100052 |publisher=Ministry of Justice (Republic of China)}}</ref> to adopt the metric system and limit the updated Chinese units of measurement to private sales and trade, effective 1 January 1930. The updated ''market units'' are based on rounded metric numbers, and ''jin'' is the base unit.<ref name="ROC1930">{{Cite web|url=http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425025351/http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2014-04-25 |title=The Weights and Measures Act (1929) |publisher=Legislative Yuan }}</ref> {|class="wikitable" |+ Mass units in the Republic of China (1930–1959)<ref name="ROC1930" /> |- !Pinyin !Character !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes |- |align=center|''sī'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|絲}} |align=right|{{frac|{{val|1600000}}}} |align=right|312.5 μg |align=right|{{val|0.00001102|u=oz}} |align=left| |- |align=center|''háo'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|毫}} |align=right|{{frac|{{val|160000}}}} |align=right|3.125 mg |align=right|{{val|0.0001102|u=oz}} |align=left| |- |align=center|''lí'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|市釐}} |align=right|{{frac|{{val|16000}}}} |align=right|31.25 mg |align=right|{{val|0.001102|u=oz}} |align=left|cash |- |align=center|''fēn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市分}} |align=right|{{frac|1600}} |align=right|312.5 mg |align=right|{{val|0.01102|u=oz}} |align=left|candareen |- |align=center|''qián'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|市錢}} |align=right|{{frac|160}} |align=right|3.125 g |align=right|0.1102 oz |align=left|mace or Chinese dram |- |align=center|''liǎng'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市兩}} |align=right|{{frac|16}} |align=right|31.25 g |align=right|1.102 oz |align=left|tael or Chinese ounce |- |align=center|'''{{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}}''' |align=right|'''{{lang|zh|市斤}}''' |align=right|'''1''' |align=right|'''500 g''' |align=right|'''1.102 lb''' |align=left|'''catty''' or '''Chinese pound''' |- |align=center|''dàn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|擔}} |align=right|100 |align=right|50 kg |align=right|110.2 lb |align=left|picul or Chinese hundredweight |}

===Mass units since 1959===

On June 25, 1959, the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued the ''Order on the Unified Measurement System'', retaining the market system, with the statement of "the market system originally stated that sixteen ''liang'' is equal to one ''jin''. Due to the trouble of conversion, it should be changed to ten ''liang'' per ''jin''."<ref name="PRC1959">{{cite web |author= |date=1959 |title=国务院关于统一我国计量制度的命令 (Order of the State Council on unifying the national measurement system, No. 180) |url=https://www.gov.cn/gongbao/shuju/1959/gwyb195916.pdf |website=State Council of China |pages=311–312 |language=zh}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=国务院关于统一我国计量制度的命令 |url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/ziliao/2005-01/10/content_2440001.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206082614/http://news.xinhuanet.com/ziliao/2005-01/10/content_2440001.htm |archive-date=2010-12-06 |access-date= |website=news.xinhuanet.com}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable" |+ Chinese mass units since 1959<ref name="PRC1959" /><ref name=":0" /> |- !Pinyin !Hanzi !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes |- |align=center|''lí'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|市厘}} |align=right|{{frac|{{val|10000}}}} |align=right|50 mg |align=right|{{val|0.001764|u=oz}} |align=left|cash |- |align=center|''fēn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市分}} |align=right|{{frac|1000}} |align=right|500 mg |align=right|{{val|0.01764|u=oz}} |align=left|candareen |- |align=center|''qián'' |align=right|{{lang|zh|市錢}} |align=right|{{frac|100}} |align=right|5 g |align=right|0.1764 oz |align=left|mace or Chinese dram |- |align=center|''liǎng'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市兩}} |align=right|{{frac|10}} |align=right|50 g |align=right|1.764 oz |align=left|tael or Chinese ounce |- |align=center|'''{{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}}''' |align=right|'''{{lang|zh|市斤}}''' |align=right|'''1''' |align=right|'''500 g''' |align=right|'''1.102 lb''' |align=left|'''catty''' or '''Chinese pound''' |- |align=center|''dàn'' |align=right|{{lang|zh-hant|市擔}} |align=right|100 |align=right|50 kg |align=right|110.2 lb |align=left|picul or Chinese hundredweight |}

Legally, 1 ''jin'' equals 500 grams, and 10 ''liang'' equals 1 ''jin'' (that is, 1 ''liang'' is 50 g). The traditional Chinese medicine measurement system was unchanged.<ref name="PRC1959" /><ref name=":0" />

====Mass units in traditional Chinese medicine ==== Until 1979, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) generally kept the division of 16 ''liang'' to 1 (500-g) ''jin''. In 1979, the State Council of China issued an order for the TCM trade to switch to metric units. The previously used ''qian'' was to be treated as exactly 3 g, with other units derived from the ''liang'' scaled accordingly.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zheng |first1=Ying |last2=Chen |first2=Ang |last3=Liu |first3=Haipeng |title=以北京为例简述上世纪 70 年代中医处方用药计量单位改革情形 |trans-title=Taking Beijing as an example, a brief description of the reform of TCM prescription measurement units in the 1970s |url=https://www.weighment.com/discourse/paper2022/221201.pdf |website=weighment.com |language=zh}}</ref> Mass units in ancient TCM prescriptions should be interpreted using the metric (gram) conversions appropriate for the era, not the modern versions of these units.<ref>{{cite web |title=古今中药计量换算 |url=http://www.zhongguoyaoye023.com/news/detail/id/221 |website=中国药业官方网站 |language=en}}</ref>

==Taiwan== thumb|Fruits sold in {{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}} ({{lang|zh|斤}}) in a Taiwanese market The ''jin'', or ''kin'', in Taiwan is called the ''Taiwan jin'' or ''taijin'' ({{zhi|台斤}}). The ''taijin'' is equivalent to the Qing-era Chinese ''jin''. In 1895 Taiwan was ceded to Japan, which implemented the metric system, but Taiwan continued to use the old weights and measures. Thus, after China stopped using the Qing system, it came to be known as the ''Taiwan system''. 1 ''taijin'' is 600 grams, or 16 Taiwan ''liang'', and 1 Taiwan ''liang'' is equal to 37.5 g.<ref>{{cite book|author1-link=Tonio Andrade |last=Andrade |first=Tonio |year=2005 |title=How Taiwan Became Chinese: Dutch, Spanish, and Han Colonization in the Seventeenth Century |url=http://www.gutenberg-e.org/andrade/ |publisher=Columbia University Press |chapter=Appendix A: Weights, Measures, and Exchange Rates |chapter-url=http://www.gutenberg-e.org/andrade/appA.html }}</ref>

{| class=wikitable |+ Taiwanese units of mass !colspan=4|Unit!!rowspan=2|Relative value !colspan=2| Metric!!colspan=2| US & Imperial!! rowspan="2" |Notes |- !Taiwanese Hokkien!!Hakka!!Mandarin!!Character !Legal!!Decimal!!Exact!!Approx. |- | Lî || Lî || Lí ||align=center| {{large|{{lang|zh-tw|釐}}}} ||align=right| {{frac|1000}}  |align=right| {{sfrac|3|80,000}}{{nbsp}}kg ||align=right| 37.5{{nbsp}}mg |align=right| {{sfrac|3750|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb ||align=right| 0.5787{{nbsp}}gr |Cash; same as Japanese ''rin'' |- | Hun || Fûn || Fēn ||align=center| {{large|{{lang|zh-tw|分}}}} ||align=right| {{frac|100}}  |align=right| {{sfrac|3|8000}}{{nbsp}}kg ||align=right| 375{{nbsp}}mg |align=right| {{sfrac|37,500|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb||align=right| 5.787{{nbsp}}gr |Candareen; same as Japanese ''fun'' |- | Chîⁿ || Chhièn || Qián ||align=center| {{large|{{lang|zh-tw|錢}}}} ||align=right| {{frac|10}}  |align=right| {{sfrac|3|800}}{{nbsp}}kg ||align=right| 3.75{{nbsp}}g |align=right| {{sfrac|375,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb ||align=right| 2.116{{nbsp}}dr |Mace; same as Japanese ''momme'' ({{lang|ja|匁}}) |- | Niú || Liông || Liǎng ||align=center| {{large|{{lang|zh-tw|兩}}}} ||align=right| 1  |align=right| {{sfrac|3|80}}{{nbsp}}kg ||align=right| 37.5{{nbsp}}g |align=right| {{sfrac|3,750,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb ||align=right| 21.16{{nbsp}}dr |Tael |- | '''Kin''' or '''chin''' || '''Kîn''' || '''Jīn''' ||align=center| '''{{large|{{lang|zh-tw|斤}}}}''' ||align=right| '''16 ''' |align=right| '''{{sfrac|3|5}}{{nbsp}}kg''' ||align=right| '''600{{nbsp}}g''' |align=right| '''{{sfrac|60,000,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb''' ||align=right| '''1.323{{nbsp}}lb''' |'''Catty'''; same as Japanese '''{{lang|ja-Latn|kin}}''' |- | Tàⁿ || Tâm || Dàn ||align=center| {{large|{{lang|zh-tw|擔}}}} ||align=right| 1600  | colspan=2 align=right| 60{{nbsp}}kg |align=right| {{sfrac|6,000,000,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb ||align=right| 132.3{{nbsp}}lb |Picul; same as Japanese ''tan'' |}

==Hong Kong and Macau== === Hong Kong and Macau mass units === According to the original Hong Kong law, Article 22 of 1884, one {{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}} is {{frac|1|1|3}} British pounds (that is, 3 {{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}} is equal to 4 pounds). Currently,{{When|date=August 2025}} Hong Kong law stipulates that one {{lang|zh-Latn|jīn}} is equal to one hundredth of a ''dan'' or sixteen ''liang'', which is 0.604 789 82 kilograms<ref name="hk_law" /> (0.604 789 82 kg divided by {{frac|4|3}} is 0.453 592 65 kg, the 1878 definition of the British Avoirdupois pound).

{|class="wikitable" |+ Mass units in Hong Kong<ref name="hk_law" /> and Macau<ref name="MO"> {{cite web |language=zh |url=https://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/92/34/lei14_cn.asp |title=第14/92/M號法律 (Law No. 14/92/M) |publisher=Government of Macau}}</ref>

!Jyutping !Character !English !Portuguese !Relative value !Relation to next largest Chinese unit (Macau) !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes |- | align="right" | ''lei4'' | align="right" | {{lang|zh|厘}} | align="center" | ''li, cash'' |align=right| liz |align=right| {{frac|{{val|16000}}}} |{{frac|10}} condorim | align="right" | {{val|37.79931|u=mg}} |align=right| {{val|0.02133|u=dr}} |align=left| |- | align="right" | ''fan1'' | align="right" | {{lang|zh-hant|分}} | align="center" | ''fen, candareen'' (fan) |align=right| condorim |align=right| {{frac|1600}} |{{frac|10}} maz | align="right" | {{val|377.9936375|u=mg}} |align=right| 0.2133 dr |align=left| |- | align="right" | ''cin4'' | align="right" | {{lang|zh|錢}} | align="center" | ''qian, mace'' (tsin) |align=right| maz |align=right| {{frac|160}} |{{frac|10}} tael | align="right" | {{val|3.779936375|u=g}} |align=right| 2.1333 dr |align=left| |- | align="right" | ''loeng2'' | align="right" | {{lang|zh-hant|兩}} | align="center" | ''liang, leung, tael'' |align=right| tael |align=right| {{frac|16}} |{{frac|16}} cate | align="right" | {{val|37.79936375|u=g}} |align=right| 1.3333 oz |align=left| 604.78982 / 16 = 37.79936375 |- | align="right" | '''''gan1''''' | align="right" | '''{{lang|zh|斤}}''' | align="center" | '''''jin''''', '''''kan''''', '''catty''' |align=right| '''cate''' |align=right| '''1''' |'''{{frac|100}} pico''' | align="right" | '''604.78982 g''' |align=right| '''1.3333 lb''' |align=left| '''Hong Kong and Macau share the definition''' |- | align="right" | ''daam3'' | align="right" | {{lang|zh-hant|擔}} | align="center" | ''dan, tam,'' picul |align=right| pico |align=right| 100 |None | align="right" | 60.478982 kg |align=right| 133.3333 lb |align=left| Hong Kong and Macau share the definition |}

=== Hong Kong troy units === These are used for trading precious metals such as gold and silver, defined around the British troy weight system.

{|class="wikitable" |+ Hong Kong troy mass units<ref name="HK">[https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap68 Cap. 68 Weights and Measures Ordinance]</ref> !English name !Chinese name !Relative value !Metric value !Imperial value !Notes |- |align=center| ''fen (candareen) troy'' |align=right| {{lang|zh-hant|金衡分}} |align=right| {{frac|100}} |align=right| 374.29 mg |align=right| 0.096 drt |align=left| |- |align=center |''qian (mace) troy'' |align=right| {{lang|zh|金衡錢}} |align=right| {{frac|10}} |align=right| 3.7429 g |align=right| 0.96 drt |align=left| |- |align=center| ''liang (tael) troy'' |align=right| {{lang|zh-hant|金衡兩}} |align=right| 1 |align=right| 37.429 g |align=right| 1.2 ozt |align=left| |}

== Malaysia and Singapore == Malaysia has similar regulations as Hong Kong, as it was also a former British colony. The rounding is slightly different, a catty (or ''jin'') is 0.604 79 kg.<ref name="my_law"/> Similarly, Singapore law stipulates that one catty is also equal to 1{{frac|1|3}} pounds, or 0.6048 kg.<ref name="sg_law" />

==Japan==

{| class="wikitable" |+ Japanese units of mass<ref name="auto">[https://books.google.com/books?id=kt9DIY1g9HYC&dq=%22conversion+coefficients+between+these+two%22&pg=PA2270 Iwata, Shigeo. "Weights and Measures in Japan"]</ref><ref>*{{citation |last=Nagase-Reimer |first=Keiko |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SnDsCgAAQBAJ |title=Copper in the Early Modern Sino-Japanese Trade |location=Leiden |publisher=Brill |date=2016 |series=''Monies, Markets, and Finance in East Asia, 1600–1900'', Vol. VII |isbn=9789004304512 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=SnDsCgAAQBAJ&pg=PR13 xiii]}}</ref> !colspan="2"|Unit !rowspan="2"|Kanji !colspan="2"|Metric !colspan="2"|US & Imperial |- !Romanised !Kanji !Legal !Decimal !Exact !Approx. |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Mō | align="center"| {{lang|ja|毛}} or {{lang|ja|毫}} | height="30pt"| {{frac|1,000,000}} | {{sfrac|3|800,000}}{{nbsp}}kg | 3.75{{nbsp}}mg | {{sfrac|375|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 8.267{{nbsp}}μlb |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Rin | align="center"| {{lang|ja|厘}} | height="30pt"| {{frac|100,000}} | {{sfrac|3|80,000}}{{nbsp}}kg | 37.5{{nbsp}}mg | {{sfrac|3750|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 0.5787{{nbsp}}gr |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Fun | align="center"| {{lang|ja|分}} | height="30pt"| {{frac|10,000}} | {{sfrac|3|8000}}{{nbsp}}kg | 375{{nbsp}}mg | {{sfrac|37,500|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 5.787{{nbsp}}gr |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" |{{anchor|Momme}}Momme<br>Monme | align="center"| {{lang|ja|匁}} | {{frac|1000}} | {{sfrac|3|800}}{{nbsp}}kg | 3.75{{nbsp}}g | {{sfrac|375,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 2.116{{nbsp}}dr |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Hyakume | align="center"| {{lang|ja|百目}} | {{frac|10}} | {{sfrac|3|8}}{{nbsp}}kg | 375{{nbsp}}g | {{sfrac|37,500,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 13.23{{nbsp}}oz |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | '''Kin''' | align="center"| '''{{lang|ja|斤}}''' | '''{{frac|4|25}}''' | '''{{sfrac|3|5}}{{nbsp}}kg''' | '''600{{nbsp}}g''' | '''{{sfrac|60,000,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb''' | '''1.323{{nbsp}}lb''' |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Kan(me) | align="center"| {{lang|ja|貫}}({{lang|ja|目}}) | 1 | {{sfrac|15|4}}{{nbsp}}kg | 3.75{{nbsp}}kg | {{sfrac|375,000,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 8.267{{nbsp}}lb |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Maru | align="center"| {{lang|ja|丸}} | 8 | colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | 30{{nbsp}}kg | {{sfrac|3,000,000,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 66.14{{nbsp}}lb |- style="text-align: right" | style="text-align:left;" | Tan | align="center"| {{lang|ja|担}} or {{lang|ja|擔}} | 16 | colspan=2 style="text-align:center;" | 60{{nbsp}}kg | {{sfrac|6,000,000,000|45,359,237}}{{nbsp}}lb | 132.3{{nbsp}}lb |- |colspan="13" bgcolor=#F0F0F0|'''Notes:''' * Exact figures follow the 1891 Law of Weights & Measures and 1959 International Yard and Pound Agreement. * Metric values are exact. US and Imperial approximations are rounded to four significant figures. |} In Japan, 1 ''jin'', or ''kin'' in Japanese, is equal to 600 grams, but is rarely used. An exception is the ''jin'' used for slices of bread. According to the fair competition regulations of the Japanese Bread Fair Trade Council, a ''jin'' only needs to be more than 340 g.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pan-koutorikyo.jp/display.html|access-date=2018-08-17|website=www.pan-koutorikyo.jp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101025003/https://www.pan-koutorikyo.jp/display.html|archive-date=2020-11-01|script-title=ja:日本パン公正取引協議会：包装食パンの斤表示の義務化 (Japan Bread Fair Trade Council: Labeling of loaf size on packaged bread mandatory) |language=Japanese}}</ref>

==Korea== The base unit of Korean mass is the {{lang|ko-Latn|gwan}}.<ref>{{citation |last=Kim |first=Jun Hee |contribution=Taking Measure |title=Invest Korea Journal |volume=25 |date=March 2007 |location=Seoul |publisher=Korea Trade–Investment Promotion Agency }}</ref> At the time of Korea's metrication, however, the {{lang|ko-Latn|geun}} (or Korean pound) was in more common use. The {{lang|ko-Latn|gwan}} is usually considered equivalent to 600{{nbsp}}g.<ref>{{citation |ref={{harvid|HMC|22 July 2007}} |title=The Hankyoreh |url = http://english.hani.co.kr/ |contribution-url = http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_business/224122.html |contribution=S. Korea Determined to Introduce Metric System |date=22 July 2007 |publisher=The Hankyoreh Media Co |location=Seoul }}</ref> The {{lang|ko-Latn|nyang}} also sees some use among Korean traditional Chinese medicine vendors.<ref>{{citation |last=B. |first=Paul |title=An Acorn in the Dog's Food |contribution=Measurements |contribution-url=http://samedi.livejournal.com/369252.html |url=http://samedi.livejournal.com/ |publisher=LiveJournal |date=21 February 2011}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" ! colspan="3" |Korean romanization ! rowspan="2" |Korean ! rowspan="2" |English ! colspan="3" |Equivalents |- !RR !MR !Other !Gwan<ref name="un">{{citation |ref={{harvid|UN|1955}} |title=World Weights and Measures: Handbook for Statisticians |url = https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001478405 |series=ST/STAT/SER. M/21, UN Publication No. 1955.XVII.2 |publisher=Statistical Office of the United Nations |location = New York, NY |year = 1955 |page=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015030989050;view=1up;seq=91 III-59]}}.</ref> !Other names !Metric (customary) |- |Ho |Ho | |{{lang|ko|호}}({{lang|ko|毫}}) | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Frac|1|1,000,000}} | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Convert|3.75|mg|abbr=on}} |- |Mo |Mo | |{{lang|ko|모}}({{lang|ko|毛}}) |- |Ri |Ri | |{{lang|ko|리}}({{lang|ko|釐}}/{{lang|ko|厘}}) | |{{Frac|1|100,000}} | |{{Convert|0.0375|g|abbr=on}} |- |Pun |P'un | |{{lang|ko|푼}} | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Frac|1|10,000}} | rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" |{{Convert|0.375|g|abbr=on}} |- |Bun |Pun | |{{lang|ko|분}}({{lang|ko|分}}) |- |Don<ref>{{citation |title="Weights and Measures in East Asian Studies" |url=http://www.albany.edu/eas/205/weights%20and%20measures.pdf |publisher=State University of New York |location=Albany |last=Fessley |first=Susanna |year=2009 |page=7 |access-date=2 May 2025 |archive-date=11 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211075848/http://www.albany.edu/eas/205/weights%20and%20measures.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> |Ton | |{{lang|ko|돈}} | |{{Frac|1|1,000}} |Momme<ref name="un" /> |{{Convert|3.75|g|abbr=on}}<ref name="un" /> |- |Nyang |Nyang |Ryang<ref>{{cite book |last=Grayson |first=James Huntley |title=Myths and Legends from Korea: An Annotated Compendium of Ancient and Modern Materials |publisher=Routledge |location=Abingdon |year=2001 |isbn=9780700712410 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=DaA-AW6lAdwC |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=DaA-AW6lAdwC&pg=PA219 219]}}</ref> Yang<ref name="un" /> |{{lang|ko|냥}}({{lang|ko|兩}}) |Korean ounce |{{Frac|1|100}} |Tael |{{Convert|37.5|g|abbr=on}}<ref name="un" /> |- |Geun |'''Kŭn''' |'''Keun'''<ref name="un" /> '''Kon'''<ref name="circlek">{{cite web |last=Rowlett |first=Russ |publisher=University of North Carolina |location=Chapel Hill |date=2002 |title=How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement |url=https://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/index.html|page=[https://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/dictK.html K] }}</ref> |'''{{lang|ko|근}}({{lang|ko|斤}})''' |'''Korean pound''' |'''{{Frac|4|25}}''' (meat), '''{{Frac|1|10}}''' (other) |'''Jin''', '''catty'''<ref name="circlek" /> |'''{{Convert|600|g|abbr=on}}''' (meat),<ref name="un" />{{sfnp|Fessley|2009|p=7}} '''{{Convert|375|g|abbr=on}}''' (other) |- |Gwan |Kwan | |{{lang|ko|관}}({{lang|ko|貫}}) | |1 | |{{Convert|3.75|kg|abbr=on}}<ref name="un" />{{sfnp|Fessley|2009|p=7}} |} {{anchor|Capacity}}

==Vietnam== In Vietnam, the ''jin'' is called the {{Lang|vi|cân ta}} ({{lit|our scale}}), and is equal to 604.6 grams. The following table lists common units of mass in Vietnam in the early 20th century:<ref>{{cite web|title=Vietnam, units of mass|work=Sizes|publisher=Sizes, Inc|date=2005-12-28|url=http://www.sizes.com/units/charts/UTBLVietnam_wts.htm}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Early 20th-century Vietnamese units of mass |- ! Name in ''Chữ Quốc ngữ'' !! Hán/Nôm name !! Traditional value in kg !! Traditional equivalent !! Modern value !! Modern equivalent |- | ''tấn'' || 擯 || 604.5 kg || 10 ''tạ'' || {{nobr|1,000 kg}} || 10 ''tạ'' |- | ''quân''<ref name="MCFA">{{cite book|title=Manuel de conversation française-annamite|trans-title=French-Annamite conversation manual|location=Saigon|publisher=Imprimerie de la Mission|year=1911|pages=175–178|language=fr}}</ref> || || 302.25 kg || 5 ''tạ'' || 500 kg || obsolete |- | ''tạ'' || 榭 || 60.45 kg || 10 ''yến'' || 100 kg || 10 ''yến'' |- | ''bình''<ref name="MCFA" /> || || 30.225 kg || 5 ''yến'' || 50 kg || obsolete |- | ''yến'' || || 6.045 kg || 10 ''cân'' || 10 kg || 10 ''cân'' |- | '''cân''' || '''斤''' || '''604.5 g''' || '''16 ''lạng'''''|| '''1 kg''' || '''10 ''lạng''''' |- | ''nén'' || || 378 g || 10 ''lạng'' || || |- | ''lạng'' || 兩 || 37.8 g || 10 ''đồng'' || 100 g || |- | ''đồng'' or ''tiền'' || 錢 || 3.78 g || 10 ''phân'' || || |- | ''phân'' || 分 || 0.38 g || 10 ''ly'' || || |- | ''ly'' or ''li'' || 厘 || 37.8 mg || 10 ''hào'' || || |- | ''hào'' || 毫 || 3.8 mg || 10 ''ti'' || || |- | ''ti'' || 絲 || 0.4 mg || 10 ''hốt'' || || |- | ''hốt'' || 忽 || 0.04 mg || 10 ''vi'' || || |- | ''vi'' || 微 || 0.004 mg || || || |}

Notes: *The ''cân'' ('scale') is also called ''cân ta'' ('our scale') to distinguish it from the kilogram (''cân tây'', 'Western scale').<ref>{{cite web|title=binh|work=Sizes|publisher=Sizes, Inc|date=2004-01-23|url=http://www.sizes.com/units/binh.htm}}</ref>

==''Jin'', pound and kilogram== The jin, pound and kilogram are all currently used in China. Their meanings and conversions in China are as follows:<ref name="LI2016">{{Cite book |last=Language Institute |first=Chinese Academy of Social Sciences |script-title= zh:现代汉语词典 (附錄：計量單位表) | trans-title= Contemporary Chinese Dictionary (Appendix: Measure units) |publisher=Commercial Press |year=2016 |isbn=978-7-100-12450-8 |edition=7th |location=Beijing |language=zh|page=1790}}</ref> * {{zhi|市斤}} (Chinese ''jin''; lit. 'market ''jin'''): Or simply called ''jin'', also called ''Chinese pound''. In the ''market system'' ({{lang|zh|市制}}) in use since 1930, 1 ''jin'' equals 500 g, equivalent to 1.1023 pounds.<ref name="LI2016" /> * {{zhi|公斤}} (kilogram, lit. 'common ''jin'''): A metric unit, equivalent to 1000 g.<ref name="LI2016" /> * {{zhi|磅}} (pound): A British Imperial unit, about 453.6 g.

== Society and culture ==

=== Etymology === The word ''catty'' comes from Malay ''kati'', meaning 'the weight'. It has also been borrowed into English as ''caddy'', meaning a container for storing tea.

===Chinese idioms=== *wikt:幾斤幾兩 ({{lang|zh-Latn|jǐjīnjǐliǎng}}) *wikt:半斤八兩 ({{lang|zh-Latn|bànjīnbāliǎng}}) *wikt:缺斤少兩 ({{lang|zh-Latn|quējīnshǎoliǎng}}) *wikt:斤斤計較 ({{lang|zh-Latn|jīnjīnjìjiào}})

== Gallery == <gallery> Sam-ho-chhi.jpg|Fruit sold in catties in a market in Sanchong, New Taipei, Taiwan Lin Hua Tai tea pricelist.jpg|Tea priced by the catty in Dadaocheng, Taipei, Taiwan Hong kong weight standards 2.jpg|A spring scale in Hong Kong with conversions between the metric system (red), traditional Chinese units (green) and Imperial units (in blue) </gallery>

==Notes== {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== From Chinese Wikipedia: *中國度量衡#衡 (Chinese mass units) *市制 (market system) *斤 (jin)

Category:Units of mass Category:Chinese units of measurement Category:Customary units of measurement Category:Chinese units of measurement in Hong Kong