cing3 to4秤砣

Jyutpingcing3 to4
Yaleching tòh

Definition

The sliding counterweight or poise of a traditional Chinese steelyard balance.

colloquialother

How it's used

Refers specifically to the heavy metal weight used in traditional beam scales. Because these scales are increasingly rare in modern Hong Kong, the term is often used metaphorically to describe something heavy that keeps an object stable or in place.

Measure word

go3go

Examples

The counterweight fell to the ground and shattered.
Use the counterweight to hold down the papers so they don't blow away.

Related words

Common phrases

A small counterweight can balance a heavy load.

Common mistake

Do not confuse this with standard weights used on digital scales, which are typically referred to simply as 砝碼.

Grammar color guide

Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector