单位
Traditional: 單位
dān wèi HSK 5

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

我的单位离我家很近。
Wǒ de dānwèi lí wǒ jiā hěn jìn.
My workplace is very close to my home.
这个单位有五十个人。
Zhège dānwèi yǒu wǔshí gè rén.
This unit has fifty people.
请填写你的单位名称。
Qǐng tiánxiě nǐ de dānwèi míngchēng.
Please fill in your unit name.
我的单位很远。
Wǒ de dānwèi hěn yuǎn.
My workplace is very far.
这是他的单位。
Zhè shì tā de dānwèi.
This is his workplace.

💡 Memory Tip

Think of '单位' as 'single position'—拆字: '单' (dān) means single, and '位' (wèi) means position or place. This helps remember both meanings: a single standard for measurement or a single place of work.

📝 Usage Notes

This word is neutral in formality and used in both spoken and written Chinese. In measurement contexts, it appears in technical, educational, or everyday discussions (e.g., shopping, science). When referring to a workplace or organization, it's common in formal or administrative settings, like job applications or official documents.

📖 Grammar Points

单位 is typically used as a noun and can be modified by other nouns or adjectives, e.g., '重量单位' (weight unit) or '我的单位' (my workplace). It often appears in phrases like '以...为单位' (in units of...), e.g., '以公斤为单位' (in kilograms).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In Chinese society, '单位' historically had strong social significance as a state-owned workplace providing housing, healthcare, and social services. While this has diminished with economic reforms, it still implies a sense of organizational belonging and stability in contexts like '铁饭碗' (iron rice bowl).

🔄 Similar Words

与 '部门' (bùmén, department) 比较:'单位' often refers to the entire organization or institution, while '部门' is a specific division within it. For measurement, '单位' is broader than specific terms like '米' (meter) or '克' (gram), which are actual units.

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