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How to say 'Length' in Japanese | 尺

Wondering how to say 'Length' in Japanese? You're in the right place!

The Japanese word for Length is 'Shaku', written as 尺 in Japanese.'Length' in hiragana is しゃく.

    word

    Meaning

    Length

    Reading

    しゃく

    shaku

    Kanji

    Foot

    Explanation

    The Japanese suffix '尺 (しゃく)' refers to a traditional unit of length, approximately equivalent to 30.3 centimeters. It is derived from the Chinese 'chi' and was historically used in Japan for measuring cloth, paper, and other materials. While it is less commonly used in modern times, it may still appear in traditional contexts or specific industries. For example: this cloth is two shaku long「この布は二尺です」(このぬのはにしゃくです). The room is ten shaku wide「この部屋は十尺の広さです」(このへやはじゅっしゃくのひろさです). Note that '尺' can also appear in compound words, such as '巻尺 (まきじゃく)' (measuring tape).

    Part Of Speech

    suffix

    Kanji JLPT

    N1

    Kanji Grade

    6

    Frequency

    5357

    Composition

    kanji

    Handwriting

Kanji in the Word

This word contains 1 kanji character:

  • kanji

    Meaning

    Foot

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What does 'Shaku' (尺) mean?

'Shaku' means 'Length' .

To help you master this word, here's an interactive lesson where you'll practice its readings and meanings.