衡 héng to measure
to measure; to weigh
How to remember 衡: 彳 step forward + ⺈ bow + 田 field + 大 big + 亍 footstep = to measure. The farmer takes a step forward, hangs his bow on the field fence and walks one big footstep after another to measure it.
Component breakdown
衡 = 彳 step forward + 𩵋 + 亍 footstep
- 彳 step forward
- 𩵋
- ⺈ bow
- 田 field
- 大 big
- 亍 footstep
The farmer takes a step forward, hangs his bow on the field fence and walks one big footstep after another to measure it.
How it is used
- Bound morpheme for weighing/balancing, rarely standing alone. Core word 平衡 (pínghéng) balance - 保持平衡 (bǎochí pínghéng) keep one's balance.
- 衡量 (héngliáng) = to weigh up/gauge, used figuratively: 衡量利弊 (héngliáng lì-bì) weigh pros and cons.
- 权衡 (quánhéng) is weighing options before a decision; 抗衡 (kànghéng) is to contend on equal footing against a rival.