qian bi 錢匕  (in English and Chinese 中英文)

By: Joe Hing Kwok Chu

Qian bi, literally means coin ladle, a measurement. According to the medical classic, Qian Jin Yao Fang, volume I: "Qian bi is using the large coin to scoop up the herb (powder). If it says half a qian bi, it means using half the surface of the coin to scoop up the herb. When it says "qian 5 bi", it is using the coin of 5 domination and using the side with the character 5 to scoop up the herb."

Also see  fang cun bī 

錢匕是古代量取藥末的器具。《千金要方》卷一：“錢匕者，以大錢上全抄之；若云半錢匕者，則是一錢抄取一邊爾，並用五銖錢也。錢五匕者，今五銖錢邊五字者以抄之，亦令不落為度。”

看方寸匕。