catties

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "catties" is correct and usable in written English, referring to a unit of weight commonly used in some Asian countries.
You can use it when discussing weights, particularly in contexts related to food, trade, or cultural references where the term is relevant. Example: "The fish was sold for 50 catties at the market today."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Communist govt. had figured that each sparrow ate an average of seven catties of grain per year.

The New Yorker

"I don't wait, I sell a pig as soon as it reaches 180 catties," or 200 pounds, he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Who – unless you were an Observer journalist and the victim of one of her notoriously unflattering by-line pictures – would not want their portrait taken by Jane Bown, even at the risk of 1,500 catty words by me?

The Guardian - Arts

Goffin and King had already written two major hits for the Cookies – the masochistic Chains (covered by the Beatles), and their gum-chewing, catty Don't Say Nothin' Bad About My Baby ("you better shut your mouth!").

The Guardian - Music

Least likely to: Be catty.

The Guardian - Music

He can be catty but is preternaturally outgoing.

The Economist

In a notably catty column, Maureen Dowd described her colleague as a "woman of mass destruction"—a mild rebuke compared with what Times people say in private.This should serve as a powerful warning to the Republicans.

The Economist

Their hair, above all Hillary Clinton's, is more analysed and yet they are not supposed to bring it up, lest they seem petty or catty.

The Economist

"It is amazing how history accelerates," was the catty remark of a prominent defector from the Brotherhood.

The Economist

Perhaps the world is simply not yet ready for him, still content to listen to the inane post-50s ditties produced by his more successful friends Jim and Jean (played by an amusingly witless Justin Timberlake and a catty Carey Mulligan).

The Economist

She subsequently took a role as a catty rival of Jennifer Aniston's character in the romantic comedy Just Go with It (2011).

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing for a global audience, provide conversions to more common units like kilograms or pounds to ensure clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "catties" without providing context or a conversion, as many readers may not be familiar with this unit of measurement.

Linguistic Context

"Catties" functions as a plural noun, referring to multiple units of weight primarily used in East and Southeast Asia. As Ludwig states, its definition is simply the plural of "cattie" or "catty". It appears in contexts involving measurements, particularly of food or goods.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "catties" is the plural form of "cattie" or "catty", a traditional unit of weight mainly used in East and Southeast Asia. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct but not commonly used in modern English. When employing "catties", especially for a global audience, it's best practice to include conversions to more universally recognized units like kilograms or pounds to ensure clarity. The term appears in a mix of news, encyclopedic, and business contexts, necessitating a neutral tone, although you may find it leaning to informal when used in Asian culture related topics. Remember to provide context when using the term to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

weight in catties

Specifies that the weight is measured in the traditional Asian unit "catties".

kilograms

Replaces a specific unit of weight with a more widely recognized international standard unit.

pounds

Substitutes the Asian weight unit with its approximate equivalent in the imperial system.

local weight measurement

Emphasizes that the unit of weight is specific to a particular region or culture.

traditional weight unit

Highlights the historical or cultural significance of the measurement unit.

a measure of weight

Generalizes the reference to a weight measurement without specifying the unit.

specified weight

Indicates that the weight has been precisely determined and stated.

amount of weight

Uses a broader term to indicate the quantity of weight, irrespective of the measurement system.

unit of measure

Refers to "catties" as one particular way to quantify weight.

standard weight

Indicates "catties" as a normalized unit in certain regions.

FAQs

How do you convert "catties" to pounds or kilograms?

One catty is approximately 1.10231 pounds or 0.5 kilograms. You can use these conversion factors to provide equivalent weights for readers unfamiliar with the term.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "catties"?

Use "catties" when discussing historical contexts, traditional Asian markets, or when the target audience is familiar with this unit of measurement. Otherwise, provide conversions to more common units.

What is the origin of the unit of measurement "catties"?

The catty is a traditional unit of weight primarily used in East and Southeast Asia. Its exact weight varies slightly by region but is generally around 600 grams or 1.32 pounds.

Are there any regional variations in the weight of a "catty"?

Yes, the weight of a catty can vary slightly depending on the region. It's essential to specify the region if precision is required. However, in most contexts, it's close to 0.6 kilograms.