A juǎn chǐ is a flexible, retractable measuring tool—commonly known in English as a tape measure. The character 卷 (juǎn) means 'to roll' or 'to coil', referring to the way the metal or fiberglass tape winds up inside its case; 尺 (chǐ) literally means 'ruler' or 'unit of length' (approx. 33 cm), anchoring the word in the domain of measurement. Together, they form a compound noun that emphasizes both function (rolling/unrolling) and purpose (measuring length).

This tool is widely used in construction, tailoring, home improvement, and DIY projects across Chinese-speaking communities. Unlike rigid rulers (zhí chǐ) or folding rules (zhé dié chǐ), the juǎn chǐ is portable and extends to measure longer distances—typically 2–5 meters. It’s often kept in toolboxes, sewing kits, or hardware stores, and frequently appears in instructions for furniture assembly or garment fitting.