Cambodian units of measurement explained

A number of units of measurement have been used in Cambodia to measure length, mass, volume, etc. The metric system has been compulsory there since 1914.[1] [2]

System before metric system

Length

Several units were used to measure length. One muoi (or mot thuoc) was equal to 1 metre.[3] Some other units are given below:.[3]

1 phyeam = 2 muoi = 2 m

1 sen = 20 phyeam = 40 muoi = 40 m

1 yoch = 400 sen = 16,000 muoi = 16 km

Cham am

The cham am is a unit of length, used during the 18th–20th century in Cambodia. It is equivalent to 12 thneap or .

Thneap

The thneap is a unit of length, used during 18th – 20th century in Cambodia.[4] It is equal to  cham am,  cm or about 20.8333 mm.[5]

Weight

Several units were used to measure mass. One muoi (mot dong can tay) was equal to 0.600 kg.[3] Some other units are given below:[3]

1 lin = muoi = 22.5 g

1 hun = 10 lin = muoi = 225 g

1 chin = 10 hun = muoi = 2.25 kg

1 tael = 10 chin = muoi = 22.5 kg

1 neal = 16 tael = 360 kg

1 pram roi (not can tay) = 1000 muoi = 600 kg

1 chong = 50 neal = 30,000 muoi = 18 t

1 hap (picul) = 20 chong = 600,000 muoi = 360 t

Capacity

Several units were used to measure capacity. One sesep (vuong mot gia) was equal to 40 litres.[3] Some other units are given below:[3]

1 muoi (vuong mot ba tay) = sesep = 1 L

1 kantang = sesep = 7.5 L

1 tao = 2 kantang = sesep = 15 L

1 thang = 2 tao = sesep = 30 L

Metric system

Length

Metric system has been compulsory with the name muoi mètre for meter.[1]

Mass

Metric system has been compulsory with the following names:[1]

1 muoi gram = 1 g

1 hocsep = 60 kg.

Capacity

Metric system has been compulsory with the following names:[1]

1 muoi litre = 1 L

1 sêsep litre = 40 L.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Washburn, E.W.. International Critical Tables of Numerical Data, Physics, Chemistry and Technology. McGraw-Hil Book Company, Inc. 1926. New York. 8.
  2. Book: Cardarelli, F.. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins.. Springer. 2003. 978-1-4471-1122-1. London. 7.
  3. Book: Cardarelli, F.. Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures. Their SI Equivalences and Origins.. Springer. 2003. 978-1-4471-1122-1. London. 146, 147.
  4. http://www.sizes.com/units/thneap.htm Sizes website, retrieved 16/11/08
  5. World Weights and Measures: Handbook for Statisticians. United Nations Statistical Office, 1955, p42. https://books.google.com/books?id=OqgIAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Cham+am%22+