升ます

noun

measuring container; measuring box; measure

A traditional square wooden box used for measuring volume, especially rice or sake. Also refers to the unit of measure itself (approx. 1.8 liters).

• 酒さか屋やで一いっ升しょう枡ますを買かった。

  I bought a one-shō measuring box at the liquor store.

• 米こめを升ますで量はかる。

  Measure rice with a masu.

noun

box seat; theatre box

Refers to a boxed seating area in a theatre or similar venue, derived from the square shape of the measuring container.

• 歌か舞ぶ伎き座ざの升ます席せきは人にん気きがある。

  The box seats at the Kabuki-za are popular.

noun

square on a grid; cell of a grid

Used for squares in a grid, cells in a table, or boxes in a crossword puzzle. The katakana spelling マス is especially common for this sense.

• クロスワードのマスを埋うめる。

  Fill in the squares of the crossword puzzle.

• 表ひょうの各かくマスに数すう字じを入いれてください。

  Please put a number in each cell of the table.

noun

square bearing block (at the top of a pillar)

Only when written 斗

Architectural term for a square wooden block placed on top of a pillar to support a beam. Restricted to the kanji 斗.

• この古ふるい神じん社じゃの柱はしらの上うえには斗ますが使つかわれている。

  Square bearing blocks are used on top of the pillars in this old shrine.