Convert grams to Chinese jin easily.

Ever tried cooking a traditional Chinese dish and stumbled over measurements like "jin"? You’re not alone. While grams rule modern kitchens, jin (斤) remains a cornerstone in Chinese culinary traditions, especially for bulk ingredients like rice, flour, or meat. This guide breaks down the grams-to-jin conversion so you can cook with confidence, whether you’re making dumplings or fried rice. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty.

Unit definitions

What is a gram (g)?

A gram is the base unit of mass in the metric system. Symbol: g. Used globally for small-scale measurements, from spices to butter. One gram equals 0.001 kilograms or roughly 0.035 ounces. If you’ve ever baked a cake, you’ve probably measured flour or sugar in grams.

What is a Chinese jin (斤)?

The jin, also known as catty, is a traditional Chinese weight unit. Symbol: 斤. Primarily used in cooking and markets, 1 jin equals 500 grams in mainland China. In Taiwan, it’s slightly heavier at 600 grams. For this guide, we’ll focus on the 500-gram standard.

Conversion formula

To convert grams to jin, divide the gram value by 500. For example:
Jin = Grams ÷ 500
Need jin to grams? Multiply instead:
Grams = Jin x 500

Example calculations

1. Converting 1000 grams to jin:
   1000 ÷ 500 = 2 jin. Perfect for buying 2 jin of pork belly at a Chinese market.
2. Converting 250 grams to jin:
   250 ÷ 500 = 0.5 jin. Ideal for smaller recipes requiring half a jin of rice.

Conversion tables

Grams to Chinese jin

Chinese jin to grams

Historical background

The jin dates back over 2,000 years to ancient China, where it was part of a broader system of weights called "shi." Originally, one jin equaled about 250 grams, but it varied by region and dynasty. In the 1950s, China standardized it to 500 grams to align with the metric system, simplifying trade and cooking. Fun fact: Some older cookbooks still reference the pre-metric jin, which can cause confusion. Always check the publication year if a recipe seems off!

The gram, on the other hand, emerged from 18th-century France. It was designed to be one-thousandth of a kilogram, which itself was based on the mass of a liter of water. This scientific foundation helped the gram become a global standard, though traditional units like jin persist in daily life.

Interesting facts

1. Market lingo: In Chinese wet markets, vendors often quote prices per jin. If they say “10 kuai per jin,” that’s 10 yuan for 500 grams.
2. Abbreviation quirk: The jin symbol (斤) looks like an axe, a nod to its ancient use in measuring metal tools.
3. Taiwan twist: Taiwan uses a 600-gram jin. Always confirm which standard a recipe uses.
4. Cultural weight: The phrase “half a jin, eight taels” (半斤八两) means two things are similar, referencing the old system where 1 jin = 16 taels.
5. Beyond China: Japan and Korea once used similar units called "kin" and "geun," both derived from the Chinese jin.

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