尺しゃく

noun

shaku (approx. 30.3 cm)

Traditional Japanese unit of length, still used in contexts like carpentry, kimono tailoring, and traditional measurements.

• この柱はしらの長ながさは六ろく尺しゃく三さん寸ずんです。

  The length of this pillar is 6 shaku 3 sun.

noun

ruler; measure; scale; length

Refers to a measuring tool (ruler, tape measure) or the abstract concept of length/measure. Often used in set phrases like 尺を当てる (measure with a ruler) or 尺が足りない (not long enough).

• 布ぬのの長ながさを測はかるために尺しゃくを当あてた。

  I placed a ruler against the cloth to measure its length.

• この板いたは尺しゃくが足たりないので、別べつのを探さがそう。

  This board isn't long enough, so let's look for another one.