Definition

1. Noun:
   • Steelyard: A traditional weighing instrument consisting of a lever with two arms of unequal length. The object to be weighed is hung from the shorter arm, and a counterweight is moved along the calibrated longer arm until balance is achieved.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Người bán hàng rong thường dùng cân thiên bình để cân trái cây. (Street vendors often use a steelyard to weigh fruit.)
  • Chiếc cân thiên bình này đã được truyền lại qua ba thế hệ. (This steelyard has been passed down through three generations.)

Advanced Usage

• The term cân thiên bình is specific to this traditional mechanical scale. It is not used for modern digital or electronic scales.

Variants and Related Words

• Cân (n): Scale, balance (the general term for any weighing instrument).
• Cân đồng hồ (n): Spring scale (a scale with a circular dial).
• Cân điện tử (n): Electronic scale.

Synonyms

• Cân đòn (n): Another term for a lever-based scale, often used interchangeably with .
• Cân tạ (n): Literally "weight scale," also refers to a steelyard.

Related Phrases

• Cân bằng (v): To balance, to equilibrate. (This is a separate verb related to the concept of equilibrium, not a direct variant of the noun ).
• Thiên bình (n): Libra (the zodiac sign). The name of the scale shares its origin with this astrological sign, symbolizing balance.

1. Steelyard