Usage of 吨 (dūn)
The character 吨 is a loanword used to represent the unit "ton," a measure of weight commonly used in contexts involving heavy objects, such as vehicles, construction materials, and industrial goods. It is a standard unit in both metric and imperial systems, but in Chinese, it usually refers to the metric ton (1000 kilograms).
Common contexts
You will often see 吨 used when discussing cargo weights, shipping capacities, or large-scale industrial measurements. For example, trucks, ships, and bridges often have their load capacities or weight limits expressed in 吨.
Collocations and patterns
- 载重量 + 吨: load capacity in tons
- 超过 + 数字 + 吨: exceeding a certain number of tons
- 以吨为单位: measured in tons
Notes
吨 is a noun and typically follows numbers directly. It is not used as a verb or in abstract senses. It is important not to confuse 吨 with other weight units like 公斤 (kilogram) or 克 (gram), which are used for lighter weights. 吨 always implies a large weight.
Common confusion
Sometimes learners confuse 吨 with 盾 (dùn), which is a different character with different meanings. Pay attention to the tone and context to avoid this mistake.