錙銖

錙銖

1. (literary, literally) zi (¹⁄₄ of a tael) and zhu (¹⁄₂₄ of a tael), both are small weight measures in ancient China

   • 雖分國如錙銖，不臣不仕。其規為有如此者。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     虽分国如锱铢，不臣不仕。其规为有如此者。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: The Book of Rites, circa 4^th – 2^nd century BCE

     Suī fēn guó rú zīzhū, bù chén bù shì. Qí guī wéi yǒu rú cǐ zhě. [Pinyin]

     […] although the offer was made to share a state with him, it would be no more to him than the small weights of a balance; he will not take a ministry, he will not take an office ― such are the rules and conduct he prescribes to himself.

2. (literary, figuratively) a tiny amount; a very small amount

   • 五六月累丸，二而不墜，則失者錙銖。 [Classical Chinese, trad.]
     五六月累丸，二而不坠，则失者锱铢。 [Classical Chinese, simp.]

     From: Zhuangzi, circa 3^rd – 2^nd centuries BCE

     Wǔ liù yuè lěiwán, èr ér bù zhuì, zé shī zhě zīzhū. [Pinyin]

     For five or six months, I practised with two pellets, till they never fell down, and then I only failed with a small fraction of the cicadas (which I tried to catch).

3. (literary, figuratively) a small profit; a very small amount of money