Understanding "吨位" - Chinese Word Explanation

1. Basic Information

• Word: 吨位
• Pinyin: dūn wèi
• Literal Meaning: “ton” + “position/rank/level”
• Primary Meaning: tonnage; the weight-carrying capacity or displacement of a ship, truck, or other large vehicle, usually measured in tons

2. In-depth Explanation

• Context and Usage:
  “吨位” is a noun used mainly in transportation, shipping, logistics, and engineering contexts. It refers to the tonnage of a vessel or vehicle — that is, how many tons it can carry or displace.
  In everyday speech, you will often hear it in phrases like “船舶吨位” (ship tonnage), “车辆吨位” (vehicle tonnage), or when asking about a truck’s load capacity.
  For example, when talking about a cargo ship, “吨位” can describe the ship’s size and carrying ability. For a truck, it may refer to its rated load in tons.
  The word is quite formal and technical, but it can occasionally be used in a lighthearted way to talk about a person’s body weight or size, though this is informal and playful.

• Character Breakdown:

• 吨 (dūn): ton. This is a loanword from English “ton.” In modern Chinese, one 吨 is normally one metric ton, equal to 1,000 kilograms.
• 位 (wèi): position, rank, place, or level. On its own, 位 is often used as a polite measure word for people, but in this compound it gives the sense of a “rating” or “grade” measured in tons.

Together, “吨位” literally suggests a “ton-level” or “tonnage rating,” which is why it translates naturally as “tonnage.”

3. Example Sentences

• Chinese: 这艘货轮的吨位是五万吨。
• Pinyin: Zhè sōu huòlún de dūnwèi shì wǔ wàn dūn.

• English: This cargo ship has a tonnage of 50,000 tons.

• Chinese: 这辆卡车的吨位是多少？

• Pinyin: Zhè liàng kǎchē de dūnwèi shì duōshao?

Sources and Further Reading

• MDBG Chinese Dictionary: 吨位
• Wiktionary: 吨位
• HSK vocabulary reference dataset

Dictionary links are provided for independent reference. Example sentences and learning notes on this page are educational explanations rather than dictionary quotations.