公斤

gōngjīn

measure word HSK 2 #7,159

Meanings

公 here means 'metric/international', converting the traditional 斤 into the metric kilogram

Zhège xīguā yǒu wǔ gōngjīn.

This watermelon weighs five kilograms.

Wǒ shòu le sān gōngjīn.

I lost three kilograms.

usage

In daily life, many Chinese people still use 斤 (jīn, ~500g) instead of 公斤. One 公斤 = two 斤.

culture

At Chinese markets, prices are often quoted per 斤 (half a kilogram), not per 公斤.

公 gōng

斤 jīn