克 kè gram
gram; to restrain; to overcome; grams
How to remember 克: 十 ten + 兄 older brother = gram. The shopkeeper puts ten candies on the scale while the older brother watches to make sure his sister gets every last gram.
Component breakdown
克 = 十 ten + 兄 older brother
- 十 ten
- 兄 older brother
- 口 mouth
- 儿 son
The shopkeeper puts ten candies on the scale while the older brother watches to make sure his sister gets every last gram.
How it came to be
A figure bent under a heavy load over the head and shoulders. Being equal to the weight is the first sense; getting the better of it, and later of an enemy, is to subdue.
How it is used
- To overcome/restrain - 克服 (kèfú) overcome (困难 difficulties), 克制 (kèzhì) hold back/restrain oneself.
- As a unit it's the gram: 千克 (qiānkè) kilogram, 五十克 (wǔshí kè) 50 grams.
- Also a pure transliteration syllable: 巧克力 (qiǎokèlì) chocolate, 坦克 (tǎnkè) tank, 克隆 (kèlóng) clone.
Characters built with 克
Words with 克
Example sentences
- 他的嘴上和脸上都沾满了巧克力。 Tā de zuǐshàng hé liǎnshàng dōu zhānmǎn le qiǎokèlì.His lips and face are covered with chocolate.