Fen (length) explained

The fen in Mandarin, fan in Cantonese or hun in Taiwanese, is a traditional Chinese unit of length. One fen equals 1/10 of a cun or 1/100 of a chi. It is 3+1⁄3 mm in China mainland, 3.71475 mm in Hong Kong and 3.030 mm in Taiwan. ^{[1] [2]}

China mainland

Table of Chinese length units effective since 1930^[3] !Pinyin!Character!Relative value!Metric value!Imperial value!Notes

háo	Chinese: 毫		μm		Chinese mil
lí	Chinese: 釐 (T) or Chinese: 厘 (S)		mm	0.0131 in	Chinese calibre
fēn	Chinese: 市分		mm	0.1312 in	Chinese line
cùn	Chinese: 市寸		cm	1.312 in	Chinese inch
chǐ	Chinese: 市尺	1	cm	13.12 in	Chinese foot
zhàng	Chinese: 市丈	10	m	3.645 yd	Chinese yard
yǐn	Chinese: 引	100	m	36.45 yd	Chinese chain
lǐ	Chinese: 市里	1500	500 m	546.8 yd	Chinese mile, this li is not the small li above, which has a different character and tone

Hong Kong and Macau

Table of Chinese length units in Hong Kong^[4] and Macau^[5] !Jyutping!Character!English!Portuguese!Relative value!Metric value!Imperial value!Notes

fan1	Chinese: 分	fan	condorim			0.1463 in
cyun3	Chinese: 寸	tsun	ponto			1.463 in	Hong Kong and Macau inch
cek3	Chinese: 尺	chek	côvado	1		1.219 ft	Hong Kong and Macau foot

These correspond to the measures listed simply as "China" in The Measures, Weights, & Moneys of All Nations

Taiwan

Length measure in Taiwan is largely metric but some units derived from traditional Japanese units of measurement remain in use as a legacy of Japanese rule.

Unit!!rowspan=2

Taiwanese feet	Metric		US & Imperial		Notes
Taiwanese Hokkien	Hakka	Mandarin	Character	Exact		Approx.	Exact	Approx.
Hun	Fûn	Fēn			m	3.030mm	yd	0.1193in	Same as Japanese Bu
	Chhun	Cùn			m	3.030cm	yd	1.193in	Taiwanese inch; Same as Japanese Sun
	Chhak	Chǐ		1	m	30.30cm	yd	11.93in	Taiwanese foot; Same as Japanese Shaku
	Chhong	Zhàng		10	m	3.030m	yd	9ft11.3in	Taiwanese fathom; Same as Japanese Jō

Taiwanese length units and the translation of length units in metric system (SI) shares the same character. The adjective Taiwanese (Chinese: 台) can be added to address the Taiwanese unis system. For example, Chinese: 台尺 means Taiwanese foot and Chinese: 公尺 means meter.

Compounds

• "" is a Chinese word which literally means fen and cun, two traditional Chinese units of length; figuratively, it refers to the sense of propriety, or the proper degree for saying or doing something. For example, "" (Pay attention to the sense of propriety in speaking.)^{[6] [7]}

See also

• Fen (land)
• Chinese units of measurement
  • Taiwanese units of measurement Hong Kong units of measurement

Notes and References

1. Book: Language Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences . 新华字典 （附录：计量单位简表）(Xinhua Dictionary (Appendix: Brief table of measurement units)) . . 2020 . 978-7-100-17093-2 . 12th . Beijing . 696 . Chinese.
2. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/分
3. Web site: The Weights and Measures Act (1929) . https://web.archive.org/web/20140425025351/http://lis.ly.gov.tw/lghtml/lawstat/version2/01926/0192618020200.htm . dead . 2014-04-25 . .
4. https://www.elegislation.gov.hk/hk/cap68 Cap. 68 WEIGHTS AND MEASURES ORDINANCE
5. Law No. 14/92/M (Chinese: [http://bo.io.gov.mo/bo/i/92/34/lei14_cn.asp 第14/92/M號法律]; Lei n.^o 14/92/M)
6. Book: Language Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences . . . 2016 . 978-7-100-12450-8 . 7th . Beijing . zh. 381.
7. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/分寸