千

See also: 于, 仟, 壬, 干, 韆, チ, and 手

千 U+5343, 千 CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-5343 ← 卂 [U+5342] CJK Unified Ideographs 卄 → [U+5344]

Translingual

Stroke order

Stroke order

Han character

千 (Kangxi radical 24, 十+1, 3 strokes, cangjie input 竹十 (HJ), four-corner 2040₀, composition ⿱丿十)

Derived characters

• 仟 吀 圲 奷 忏 扦 汘 迁 阡 杄 歼 𬆼 瓩 䀒 䄭 竏 粁 䊹 (纤) 兛 釺 (钎) 𠦳 𡶨 刋 㔓 圱 谸 舌 忎 乖 芊 秊 䄹
• 禾 垂 乗 重 熏 挿 㰱

Descendants

• チ (Katakana character derived from man'yōgana)

Further reading

• Kangxi Dictionary: page 155, character 19
• Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 2697
• Dae Jaweon: page 351, character 2
• Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 59, character 1
• Unihan data for U+5343

Chinese

Glyph origin

Historical forms of the character 千
Shang	Western Zhou	Warring States	Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)	Liushutong (compiled in Ming)
Oracle bone script	Bronze inscriptions	Chu slip and silk script	Small seal script	Transcribed ancient scripts

Characters in the same phonetic series (人) (Zhengzhang, 2003) 

	Old Chinese
千	*sn̥ʰiːn
仟	*sn̥ʰiːn
芊	*sn̥ʰiːn, *sn̥ʰiːns
阡	*sn̥ʰiːn
汘	*sn̥ʰiːn
迁	*sn̥ʰiːn
杄	*sn̥ʰiːn
人	*njin
仁	*njin
朲	*njin
佞	*neːŋs

Phono-semantic compound (形聲／形声, OC *sn̥ʰiːn) : semantic 一 (“one, signifying a number”) + phonetic 人 (OC *njin). The Old Chinese pronunciations of 千 (OC *sn̥ʰiːn) and 人 (OC *njin) were similar. For the component 人, compare its combining form 亻.

The traditional explanation holds that the extra line indicates an extension (see the etymologies of 年 and 延). 千 has the meaning one thousand because one thousand is a number that is reached by extending one's counting.

Etymology 1

simp. and trad.		千
alternative forms		仟 financial

Unclear. Schuessler (2007) notes similar forms in Mon-Khmer, though their initials and finals do not match Old Chinese; compare Vietnamese nghìn and Old Mon lṅim (whence Mon လ္ၚီ (ŋìm)), all meaning "thousand". Also compare Proto-Hlai *C-ŋin.

Pronunciation

• Mandarin

  (Standard)

  (Pinyin): qiān (qian¹)

  (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧㄢ

  (Chengdu, Sichuanese Pinyin): qian¹

  (Dungan, Cyrillic and Wiktionary): чян (či͡an, I)

• Cantonese

  (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): cin¹

  (Taishan, Wiktionary): ten¹

• Gan (Wiktionary): qien¹
• Hakka

  (Sixian, PFS): chhiên

  (Meixian, Guangdong): qiên¹

• Jin (Wiktionary): qie¹
• Northern Min (KCR): cháing
• Eastern Min (BUC): chiĕng
• Southern Min

  (Hokkien, POJ): chheng / chhuiⁿ / chhaiⁿ / chheeng / chhan / chhian

  (Teochew, Peng'im): coin¹ / cain¹

• Wu (Wugniu)
  • (Northern): ¹chi / ¹tshie
• Xiang (Changsha, Wiktionary): cienn¹

---

• Mandarin
  • (Standard Chinese)⁺
    • Hanyu Pinyin: qiān
    • Zhuyin: ㄑㄧㄢ
    • Tongyong Pinyin: cian
    • Wade–Giles: chʻien¹
    • Yale: chyān
    • Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chian
    • Palladius: цянь (cjanʹ)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/
  • (Chengdu)
    • Sichuanese Pinyin: qian¹
    • Scuanxua Ladinxua Xin Wenz: kian
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵/
  • (Dungan)
    • Cyrillic and Wiktionary: чян (či͡an, I)
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiæ̃²⁴/

    (Note: Dungan pronunciation is currently experimental and may be inaccurate.)

• Cantonese
  • (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
    • Jyutping: cin¹
    • Yale: chīn
    • Cantonese Pinyin: tsin¹
    • Guangdong Romanization: qin¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵/
  • (Taishanese, Taicheng)
    • Wiktionary: ten¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /tʰen³³/
• Gan
  • (Nanchang)
    • Wiktionary: qien¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡ɕʰiɛn⁴²/
• Hakka
  • (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Meinong)
    • Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhiên
    • Hakka Romanization System: qien´
    • Hagfa Pinyim: qian¹
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰi̯en²⁴/
  • (Meixian)
    • Guangdong: qiên¹
    • Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴/
• Jin
  • (Taiyuan)⁺
    • Wiktionary: qie¹
    • Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡ɕʰie¹¹/
• Northern Min
  • (Jian'ou)
    • Kienning Colloquial Romanized: cháing
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰaiŋ⁵⁴/
• Eastern Min
  • (Fuzhou)
    • Bàng-uâ-cê: chiĕng
    • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰieŋ⁵⁵/
• Southern Min
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese, Penang, Singapore)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chheng
    • Tâi-lô: tshing
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhefng
    • IPA (Penang): /t͡sʰeŋ³³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰiɪŋ⁴⁴/
    • IPA (Singapore): /t͡sʰeŋ⁴⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Anxi, Quanzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhuiⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tshuinn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhvuy
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰuĩ³³/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Anxi, Tong'an, Kinmen)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhaiⁿ
    • Tâi-lô: tshainn
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhvay
    • IPA (Xiamen, Tong'an, Kinmen): /t͡sʰãi⁴⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Zhao'an)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chheeng
    • Tâi-lô: tsheeng
  • (Hokkien: Zhangzhou)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhan
    • Tâi-lô: tshan
    • Phofsit Daibuun: zhafn
    • IPA (Zhangzhou): /t͡sʰan⁴⁴/
  • (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
    • Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhian
    • Tâi-lô: tshian
    • Phofsit Daibuun: chiefn
    • IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰiɛn³³/
    • IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰiɛn⁴⁴/

Note:

• chheng/chhuiⁿ/chhaiⁿ/chheeng/chhan - (colloquial);
• chhian - (literary).

• (Teochew)
  • Peng'im: coin¹ / cain¹
  • Pe̍h-ōe-jī-like: tshoiⁿ / tshaiⁿ
  • Sinological IPA ^(key): /t͡sʰõĩ³³/, /t͡sʰãĩ³³/

Note:

• cain1 - Huilai, Jieyang, Chaoyang;
• coin1 - other places.

• Wu
  • (Northern: Shanghai)
    • Wugniu: ¹chi
    • MiniDict: chi^平
    • Wiktionary Romanisation (Shanghai): ¹qi
    • Sinological IPA (Shanghai): /t͡ɕʰi⁵³/
  • (Northern: Suzhou)
    • Wugniu: ¹tshie
    • MiniDict: tshie^平
    • Sinological IPA (Suzhou): /t͡sʰɪ⁴⁴/
• Xiang
  • (Changsha)
    • Wiktionary: cienn¹
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (old-style): /t͡sʰi̯ẽ³³/
    • Sinological IPA ^(key) (new-style): /t͡ɕʰi̯ẽ³³/

---

• Dialectal data

Variety	Location	edit 千
Mandarin	Beijing	/t͡ɕʰian⁵⁵/
	Harbin	/t͡ɕʰian⁴⁴/
	Tianjin	/t͡ɕʰian²¹/
	Jinan	/t͡ɕʰiã²¹³/
	Qingdao	/t͡sʰiã²¹³/
	Zhengzhou	/t͡sʰian²⁴/
	Xi'an	/t͡ɕʰiã²¹/
	Xining	/t͡ɕʰiã⁴⁴/
	Yinchuan	/t͡ɕʰian⁴⁴/
	Lanzhou	/t͡ɕʰiɛ̃n³¹/
	Ürümqi	/t͡ɕʰian⁴⁴/
	Wuhan	/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁵⁵/
	Chengdu	/t͡ɕʰian⁵⁵/
	Guiyang	/t͡ɕʰian⁵⁵/
	Kunming	/t͡ɕʰiɛ̃⁴⁴/
	Nanjing	/t͡sʰien³¹/
	Hefei	/t͡ɕʰiĩ²¹/
Jin	Taiyuan	/t͡ɕʰie¹¹/
	Pingyao	/t͡ɕʰie̞¹³/
	Hohhot	/t͡ɕʰie³¹/
Wu	Shanghai	/t͡ɕʰi⁵³/
	Suzhou	/t͡sʰiɪ⁵⁵/
	Hangzhou	/t͡ɕʰiẽ̞³³/
	Wenzhou	/t͡ɕʰi³³/
Hui	Shexian	/t͡sʰe³¹/
	Tunxi	/t͡sʰiɛ¹¹/
Xiang	Changsha	/t͡sʰiẽ³³/
	Xiangtan	/t͡sʰiẽ³³/
Gan	Nanchang	/t͡ɕʰiɛn⁴²/
Hakka	Meixian	/t͡sʰien⁴⁴/
	Taoyuan	/t͡sʰien²⁴/
Cantonese	Guangzhou	/t͡sʰin⁵³/
	Nanning	/t͡sʰin⁵⁵/
	Hong Kong	/t͡sʰin⁵⁵/
Min	Xiamen (Hokkien)	/t͡sʰian⁵⁵/ /t͡sʰiŋ⁵⁵/
	Fuzhou (Eastern Min)	/t͡sʰieŋ⁴⁴/
	Jian'ou (Northern Min)	/t͡sʰaiŋ⁵⁴/
	Shantou (Teochew)	/t͡sʰõi³³/
	Haikou (Hainanese)	/sin²³/ /sai²³/

---

• Middle Chinese: tshen

Rime
Character	千
Reading #	1/1
Initial (聲)	清 (14)
Final (韻)	先 (85)
Tone (調)	Level (Ø)
Openness (開合)	Open
Division (等)	IV
Fanqie	蒼先切
Baxter	tshen
Reconstructions
Zhengzhang Shangfang	/t͡sʰen/
Pan Wuyun	/t͡sʰen/
Shao Rongfen	/t͡sʰɛn/
Edwin Pulleyblank	/t͡sʰɛn/
Li Rong	/t͡sʰen/
Wang Li	/t͡sʰien/
Bernard Karlgren	/t͡sʰien/
Expected Mandarin Reflex	qiān
Expected Cantonese Reflex	cin1

• Old Chinese

  (Baxter–Sagart): /*s.n̥ˤi[ŋ]/

  (Zhengzhang): /*sn̥ʰiːn/

Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014)
Character	千
Reading #	1/1
Modern Beijing (Pinyin)	qiān
Middle Chinese	‹ tshen ›
Old Chinese	/*s.n̥ˁi[ŋ]/
English	thousand
Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "()" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "[]" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary.

Zhengzhang system (2003)
Character	千
Reading #	1/1
No.	10792
Phonetic component	人
Rime group	眞
Rime subdivision	1
Corresponding MC rime	千
Old Chinese	/*sn̥ʰiːn/
Notes	小徐人聲，甲文乃借人加一

Definitions

千

1. thousand

   幾千／几千  ―  jǐ qiān  ―  several thousand

2. many; numerous

   千山萬水／千山万水  ―  qiānshānwànshuǐ  ―  many rivers and mountains

3. (Cantonese) to swindle; to defraud

   • 佢收手不再千　走去撈製片 [Cantonese, trad.]
     佢收手不再千　走去捞制片 [Cantonese, simp.]

     From: 2019, 尹光 [Wan Kwong], 荷里活有個大老千 [I Bet Your Pardon]

     keoi⁵ sau¹ sau² bat¹ zoi³ cin¹, zau² heoi³ lou¹ zai³ pin^3-2 [Jyutping]

     She quit swindling and went to be a film producer

See also

Chinese numbers
	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	102	103	104	106	108	1012
Normal (小寫／小写)	〇, 零, 空	一, 蜀	二, 兩／两	三	四	五	六	七	八	九	十	百	千	萬／万, 十千 (Malaysia, Singapore)	百萬／百万, 桶(Philippines), 面桶 (Philippines)	億／亿	兆 (Taiwan) 萬億／万亿 (Mainland China)
Financial (大寫／大写)	零	壹	貳／贰	參／叁	肆	伍	陸／陆	柒	捌	玖	拾	佰	仟

Compounds

• 一刻千金 (yīkèqiānjīn)
• 一壺千金／一壶千金
• 一字千金 (yīzìqiānjīn)
• 一念三千
• 一擲千金／一掷千金 (yīzhìqiānjīn)
• 一日千里 (yīrì qiānlǐ)
• 一曲千金
• 一瀉千里 (yīxièqiānlǐ)
• 一笑千金
• 一舉千里
• 一落千丈 (yīluòqiānzhàng)
• 一言千金
• 一諾千金／一诺千金 (yīnuòqiānjīn)
• 一飯千金／一饭千金
• 一髮千鈞／一发千钧 (yīfàqiānjūn)
• 三千世界 (sānqiān shìjiè)
• 三千弟子
• 三千珠履
• 三百千千
• 下筆千言／下笔千言
• 不遠千里 (bùyuǎnqiānlǐ)
• 中千世界 (zhōng qiān shìjiè)
• 二千石
• 人千人萬／人千人万
• 來千去萬／来千去万
• 倚馬千言／倚马千言
• 僮手指千
• 儀態萬千／仪态万千
• 八千子弟
• 千乘 (qiānshèng)
• 千乘萬騎／千乘万骑 (qiānshèngwànqí)
• 千乞
• 千了百當／千了百当
• 千人所指
• 千仇萬恨／千仇万恨
• 千仞 (qiānrèn)
• 千佛塔
• 千佛山
• 千佛洞
• 千依百順／千依百顺
• 千依萬順／千依万顺
• 千倉萬箱／千仓万箱
• 千億／千亿 (qiānyì)
• 千兵萬馬／千兵万马
• 千刀萬剁／千刀万剁
• 千刀萬剮／千刀万剐
• 千刁萬惡／千刁万恶
• 千千 (qiānqiān)
• 千千萬萬／千千万万 (qiānqiānwànwàn)
• 千古 (qiāngǔ)
• 千古事
• 千古傳誦／千古传诵
• 千古未聞／千古未闻
• 千古流傳／千古流传
• 千古獨步／千古独步
• 千叮萬囑／千叮万嘱
• 千古絕唱／千古绝唱 (qiāngǔjuéchàng)
• 千古罪人 (qiāngǔzuìrén)
• 千呼萬喚／千呼万唤 (qiānhūwànhuàn)
• 千咒萬罵／千咒万骂
• 千喚萬喚／千唤万唤
• 千夫
• 千夫所指 (qiānfūsuǒzhǐ)
• 千夫長／千夫长
• 千奇百怪 (qiānqíbǎiguài)
• 千妥萬妥／千妥万妥
• 千妥萬當／千妥万当
• 千嬌百媚／千娇百媚
• 千嬌百態／千娇百态
• 千孔百瘡／千孔百疮
• 千字文 (Qiānzìwén)
• 千家姓
• 千家萬戶／千家万户 (qiānjiāwànhù)
• 千家詩／千家诗 (Qiānjiāshī)
• 千尋／千寻
• 千層糕／千层糕 (qiāncénggāo)
• 千山山脈／千山山脉
• 千山萬壑／千山万壑
• 千山萬水／千山万水 (qiānshānwànshuǐ)
• 千岐萬轍／千岐万辙
• 千岩萬壑／千岩万壑 (qiānyánwànhè)
• 千島群島／千岛群岛 (Qiāndǎo Qúndǎo)
• 千嶂
• 千巖萬壑／千岩万壑
• 千巖萬谷／千岩万谷
• 千巖競秀／千岩竞秀
• 千差萬別／千差万别 (qiānchā-wànbié)
• 千年 (qiānnián)
• 千年萬載／千年万载
• 千年艾
• 千思萬想／千思万想
• 千恩萬謝／千恩万谢 (qiān'ēnwànxiè)
• 千愁萬恨／千愁万恨
• 千愁萬慮／千愁万虑
• 千愁萬緒／千愁万绪
• 千態萬狀／千态万状
• 千慮一失／千虑一失 (qiānlǜyīshī)
• 千慮一得／千虑一得 (qiānlǜyīdé)
• 千戶／千户
• 千手
• 千手千眼觀音／千手千眼观音 (Qiān Shǒu Qiān Yǎn Guānyīn)
• 千挑百選／千挑百选
• 千挑萬選／千挑万选
• 千推萬阻／千推万阻
• 千支萬派／千支万派
• 千斤 (qiānjīn)
• 千斤頂／千斤顶 (qiānjīndǐng)
• 千方百計／千方百计 (qiānfāngbǎijì)
• 千方萬計／千方万计
• 千日紅／千日红
• 千日菊
• 千日酒
• 千村萬落／千村万落
• 千條萬端／千条万端
• 千條萬緒／千条万绪
• 千歡萬喜／千欢万喜
• 千歲／千岁 (qiānsuì)
• 千歲一時／千岁一时
• 千泉 (Qiānquán)
• 千湖國／千湖国
• 千牛
• 千牛刀
• 千狀萬態／千状万态
• 千狀萬端／千状万端
• 千瓦 (qiānwǎ)
• 千瓦時／千瓦时
• 千生萬死／千生万死
• 千瘡百孔／千疮百孔 (qiānchuāngbǎikǒng)
• 千百成群 (qiān bǎi chéngqún)
• 千真萬真／千真万真
• 千真萬確／千真万确 (qiānzhēnwànquè)
• 千石
• 千萬／千万 (qiānwàn)
• 千萬買鄰／千万买邻 (qiānwànmǎilín)
• 千秋 (qiānqiū)
• 千秋佳城
• 千秋萬世／千秋万世 (qiānqiūwànshì)
• 千秋萬代／千秋万代 (qiānqiūwàndài)
• 千秋萬古／千秋万古 (qiānqiūwàngǔ)
• 千秋萬歲／千秋万岁 (qiānqiūwànsuì)
• 千秋節／千秋节
• 千端萬緒／千端万绪
• 千篇一律 (qiānpiānyīlǜ)
• 千米 (qiānmǐ)
• 千紅萬紫／千红万紫
• 千絲萬縷／千丝万缕 (qiānsīwànlǚ)
• 千緒萬端／千绪万端
• 千總／千总
• 千般
• 千般萬樣／千般万样
• 千葉／千叶 (Qiānyè)
• 千言萬語／千言万语 (qiānyánwànyǔ)
• 千變萬化／千变万化 (qiānbiànwànhuà)
• 千變萬狀／千变万状
• 千赫
• 千足港條／千足港条
• 千軍萬馬／千军万马 (qiānjūnwànmǎ)
• 千載／千载 (qiānzǎi)
• 千載一合／千载一合
• 千載一時／千载一时
• 千載一會／千载一会
• 千載一逢／千载一逢
• 千載一遇／千载一遇 (qiānzǎiyīyù)
• 千載揚名／千载扬名
• 千載獨步／千载独步
• 千載難逢／千载难逢 (qiānzǎinánféng)
• 千辛百苦
• 千辛萬苦／千辛万苦 (qiānxīnwànkǔ)
• 千迴百折／千回百折
• 千迴百轉／千回百转
• 千里 (qiānlǐ)
• 千里一曲
• 千里命駕
• 千里姻緣一線牽／千里姻缘一线牵 (qiānlǐ yīnyuán yīxiàn qiān)
• 千里猶面
• 千里眼 (qiānlǐyǎn)
• 千里移檄
• 千里足
• 千里迢迢 (qiānlǐtiáotiáo)
• 千里迢遙
• 千里達 (Qiānlǐdá)
• 千里鏡 (qiānlǐjìng)
• 千里馬 (qiānlǐmǎ)
• 千里駒
• 千里鵝毛
• 千金 (qiānjīn)
• 千金一刻
• 千金一擲／千金一掷
• 千金一笑
• 千金一諾／千金一诺
• 千金之子
• 千金之家
• 千金小姐
• 千金市骨
• 千金敝帚
• 千金裘
• 千金要方
• 千金記／千金记
• 千金買笑／千金买笑
• 千金買骨／千金买骨
• 千金軀／千金躯
• 千鈞／千钧
• 千鈞一髮／千钧一发 (qiānjūnyīfà)
• 千鈞重負／千钧重负
• 千錘百鍊／千锤百炼 (qiānchuíbǎiliàn)
• 千鍾粟／千钟粟
• 千門／千门
• 千門萬戶／千门万户
• 千難萬險／千难万险
• 千難萬難／千难万难 (qiānnánwànnán)
• 千面人
• 千章
• 千頃陂／千顷陂
• 千頭橘奴／千头橘奴
• 千頭百緒／千头百绪
• 千頭萬緒／千头万绪
• 千鬼百怪
• 各有千秋 (gèyǒuqiānqiū)
• 咫尺千里
• 垂馨千祀
• 壁立千仞 (bìlìqiānrèn)
• 大千 (dàqiān)
• 大千世界 (dàqiānshìjiè)
• 大業千秋／大业千秋
• 小千世界 (xiǎo qiān shìjiè)
• 尺寸千里
• 尺幅千里
• 弊帚千金
• 弱水三千
• 張千／张千
• 張大千／张大千
• 志在千里
• 感慨萬千／感慨万千
• 成千上萬／成千上万 (chéngqiānshàngwàn)
• 成千成萬／成千成万 (chéngqiānchéngwàn)
• 成千累萬／成千累万
• 成千論萬／成千论万
• 打個千兒／打个千儿
• 打千 (dǎqiān)
• 掛千／挂千
• 撥萬論千／拨万论千
• 撥萬輪千／拨万轮千
• 敝帚千金 (bìzhǒuqiānjīn)
• 數以千計／数以千计
• 日行千里 (rì xíng qiānlǐ)
• 日轉千街／日转千街
• 日轉千階／日转千阶
• 柔情萬千／柔情万千
• 橫掃千軍／横扫千军
• 殺千刀／杀千刀
• 毫釐千里
• 氣象萬千／气象万千 (qìxiàngwànqiān)
• 決勝千里／决胜千里
• 決策千里
• 沃野千里
• 流血千里
• 無千大萬／无千大万
• 無千帶數／无千带数
• 無千無萬／无千无万
• 片石千鈞／片石千钧
• 獨立千古／独立千古
• 白千層／白千层
• 百了千當／百了千当
• 百卉千葩
• 百媚千嬌／百媚千娇
• 百子千孫／百子千孙
• 百孔千創／百孔千创
• 百孔千瘡／百孔千疮 (bǎikǒngqiānchuāng)
• 百巧千窮／百巧千穷
• 百拙千醜／百拙千丑
• 百歲千秋／百岁千秋
• 百紫千紅／百紫千红
• 百縱千隨／百纵千随
• 百計千心／百计千心
• 百計千方／百计千方
• 百計千謀／百计千谋
• 百謀千計／百谋千计
• 百鍛千練／百锻千练
• 盈千累百
• 盈千累萬／盈千累万
• 瞬息千變／瞬息千变
• 萬代千秋／万代千秋 (wàndàiqiānqiū)
• 萬兒八千／万儿八千
• 萬別千差／万别千差
• 萬剮千刀／万剐千刀
• 萬千／万千 (wànqiān)
• 萬古千秋／万古千秋 (wàngǔqiānqiū)
• 萬壽千秋／万寿千秋
• 萬戶千門／万户千门
• 萬歲千秋／万岁千秋
• 萬水千山／万水千山 (wànshuǐqiānshān)
• 萬萬千千／万万千千
• 萬紅千紫／万红千紫
• 萬紫千紅／万紫千红 (wànzǐqiānhóng)
• 萬緒千端／万绪千端
• 萬緒千頭／万绪千头
• 萬縷千絲／万缕千丝
• 萬苦千辛／万苦千辛
• 萬語千言／万语千言
• 萬載千秋／万载千秋 (wànzǎiqiānqiū)
• 萬馬千軍／万马千军
• 秋千 (qiūqiān)
• 立掃千言／立扫千言
• 筆掃千軍／笔扫千军
• 老千 (lǎoqiān)
• 耍老千
• 肉重千斤
• 舉目千里
• 舳艫千里
• 英烈千秋
• 蒼蠅附驥尾而致千里／苍蝇附骥尾而致千里 (cāngying fù jì wěi ér zhì qiānlǐ)
• 彪炳千古 (biāobǐngqiāngǔ)
• 蠅附驥尾而致千里／蝇附骥尾而致千里 (yíng fù jì wěi ér zhì qiānlǐ)
• 要千取萬／要千取万
• 說千說萬／说千说万
• 論千論萬／论千论万
• 謬以千里
• 豪釐千里
• 負笈千里
• 貽笑千古／贻笑千古
• 貽笑千秋／贻笑千秋
• 赤地千里
• 跋涉千里 (báshèqiānlǐ)
• 跛鱉千里 (bǒbiēqiānlǐ)
• 跬步千里
• 軸艫千里／轴舻千里
• 轉戰千里／转战千里
• 轉鬥千里／转斗千里
• 迢迢千里 (tiáotiáoqiānlǐ)
• 運籌千里／运筹千里
• 遺恨千古／遗恨千古
• 遺臭千年／遗臭千年
• 風流千古／风流千古
• 髮引千鈞／发引千钧

 

Descendants

Sino-Xenic (千):

• → Japanese: 千(せん) (sen)
• → Korean: 천(千) (cheon)
• → Vietnamese: thiên (千)

Others:

• → Zhuang: cien (“thousand”)

Etymology 2

For pronunciation and definitions of 千 – see 韆 (“swing”). (This character is the simplified form of 韆).

Notes: Simplified Chinese is mainly used in Mainland China, Malaysia, and Singapore. Traditional Chinese is mainly used in Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Further reading

• “Entry #188”, in 臺灣閩南語常用詞辭典 [Dictionary of Frequently-Used Taiwan Minnan] (overall work in Mandarin and Hokkien), Ministry of Education, R.O.C., 2023.

Japanese

Kanji

千

(grade 1 “Kyōiku” kanji)

Readings

• Go-on: せん (sen, Jōyō)
• Kan-on: せん (sen, Jōyō)
• Kun: ち (chi, 千, Jōyō)
• Nanori: かず (kazu); ゆき (yuki)

Compounds

• 千(ち)早(はや)ぶ (chihayabu)

Alternative forms

Kanji in this term
千
せん Grade: 1
on’yomi

• (financial) 仟, 阡

Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 千 (MC tshen).

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) せ​ん [séꜜǹ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [sẽ̞ɴ]

Numeral

千(せん) • (sen) 

1. a thousand, 1000

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 千(せん)万(まん) (senman), 千(せん)万(ばん) (senban)
• 千(せん)日(にち) (sennichi)
• 千(せん)人(にん) (sennin)
• 千(せん)年(ねん) (sennen)
• 千(せん)羽(ば)鶴(づる) (senbazuru)
• 千(せん)百(ひゃく) (senhyaku)
• 千(せん)本(ぼん) (senbon)
• 千(せん)里(り) (senri)
• 千(せん)両(りょう)箱(ばこ) (senryōbako)

Japanese numerical compounds with 千(せん) (sen)
1,000	2,000	3,000	4,000	5,000	6,000	7,000	8,000	9,000	Thousands of
千(せん) (sen) 一(いっ)千(せん) (issen)	二(に)千(せん) (nisen)	三(さん)千(ぜん) (sanzen)	四(よん)千(せん) (yonsen)	五(ご)千(せん) (gosen)	六(ろく)千(せん) (rokusen)	七(なな)千(せん) (nanasen)	八(はっ)千(せん) (hassen)	九(きゅう)千(せん) (kyūsen)	何(なん)千(ぜん) (nanzen) 数(すう)千(せん) (sūsen)

Idioms

• 千(せん)に一(ひと)つ (sen ni hitotsu)
• 千(せん)も万(まん)もいらぬ (sen mo man mo iranu)
• 海(うみ)千(せん)山(やま)千(せん) (umisen yamasen)

Affix

千(せん) • (sen) 

1. thousand
2. (by extension) very large number

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 千(せん)客(きゃく) (senkyaku)
• 千(せん)言(げん) (sengen)
• 千(せん)差(さ) (sensa)
• 千(せん)載(ざい), 千(せん)歳(ざい) (senzai)
• 千(せん)秋(しゅう) (senshū)
• 千(せん)草(そう) (sensō)
• 数(すう)千(せん) (sūsen)
• 当(とう)千(せん) (tōsen)

Proper noun

千(せん) • (Sen) 

1. a surname, especially from the line of tea ceremony masters

Etymology 2

Kanji in this term
千
ち Grade: 1
kun’yomi

⟨ti⟩ → /t͡ɕi/

From Old Japanese.

Pronunciation

• (Tokyo) ち​ [chíꜜ] (Atamadaka – [1])
• IPA^(key): [t͡ɕi]

Numeral

千(ち) • (chi) 

1. a thousand, 1000

Coordinate terms

• 百(もも) (momo), 百(ほ) (ho), 百(お) (o)
• 万(よろず) (yorozu)

Derived terms

Derived terms

• 千(ち)々(ぢ) (chiji)
• 千(ち)草(ぐさ) (chigusa)
• 千(ち)里(さと) (chisato)
• 千(ち)歳(とせ) (Chitose)
• 千(ち)鳥(どり) (chidori)
• 千(ち)本(もと) (chimoto)
• 千(ち)代(よ) (chiyo)
• 千(ち)万(よろず) (chiyorozu)

Japanese numerals from Old Japanese using 千(ち) (chi)
1,000	2,000	3,000	4,000	5,000	6,000	7,000	8,000	9,000
千(ち) (chi)	二(ふた)千(ち) (futachi)	三(み)千(ち) (michi)	四(よ)千(ち) (yochi)	五(い)千(ち) (ichi)	六(む)千(ち) (muchi)	七(なな)千(ち) (nanachi)	八(や)千(ち) (yachi)	九(ここの)千(ち) (kokonochi)

Korean

Etymology

From Middle Chinese 千 (MC tshen).

Historical Readings
Dongguk Jeongun Reading
Dongguk Jeongun, 1448	쳔 (Yale: chyèn)
Middle Korean
Text	Eumhun
	Gloss (hun)	Reading
Hunmong Jahoe, 1527[1]	즈〮믄〮 (Yale: cúmún)	쳔 (Yale: chyèn)

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [t͡ɕʰʌ̹n]
• Phonetic hangul: [천]

Hanja

Wikisource

千 (eumhun 일천(一千) 천 (ilcheon cheon))

1. Hanja form^? of 천 (“thousand”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 천금 (千金, cheon'geum)
• 천도 (千島, cheondo)
• 천추 (千秋, cheonchu)
• 수천 (數千, sucheon)
• 차천 (且千, chacheon)
• 천리마 (千里馬, cheollima)
• 천리안 (千里眼, cheollian)
• 천군만마 (千軍萬馬, cheon'gunmanma)
• 천추만대 (千秋萬代, cheonchumandae)

References

• 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典. [2]

Old Japanese

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

Numeral

千 (ti) (kana ち)

1. a thousand, 1000
   • c. 759, Man’yōshū, book 12, poem 3059:
     , text here

     百爾千爾人者雖言月草之移情吾將持八方

     momo ni ti ni pi₁to₂ pa ipu to₂ mo tuki₂kusa no₂ uturo₂pu ko₂ko₂ro₂ ware motame₂ ya mo

     (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Derived terms

• 千秋 (tiaki₁)
• 千名 (tina)
• 千代 (tiyo₂)
• 千萬 (tiyo₂ro₂du)

Descendants

• Japanese: 千 (chi)

Vietnamese

Han character

千: Hán Việt readings: thiên (倉(thương)先(tiên)切(thiết))
千: Nôm readings: thiên, xiên

1. chữ Hán form of thiên (“thousand”).

Compounds

Compounds

• 一笑千金 (nhất tiếu thiên kim)
• 千古 (thiên cổ)
• 千金 (thiên kim)
• 千官 (thiên quan)
• 千載一時 (thiên tải nhất thì)
• 千秋 (thiên thu)
• 千歲 (thiên tuế)
• 千變萬化 (thiên biến vạn hóa/thiên biến vạn hoá)
• 千年紀 (thiên niên kỉ)
• 千乘之國 (thiên thặng chi quốc)
• 千歲 (thiên tuếlong live)