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On'yomi
シャク・セキ
SHAKU / SEKI
Kun'yomi
さし
sashi

shaku · Japanese foot · measure · scale · rule

Details

Strokes4
Frequency#1940
Radicalcorpse(3)

Stroke Order

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Strokes4

Cultural Context

Etymology

Shape of spread hand length. Unit of length.

Symbolism

Scale, shakuhachi, measurement. Represents length.

Related Culture & Scenes

  • Following rules

Words & Expressions

Four-Character Compounds

寸進尺退

すんしんしゃくたい

one step forward, many steps backward; little to gain and much to lose; one step forward, many steps backward

寸善尺魔

すんぜんしゃくま

in evil, there is odds; there is more evil than good in this world; one good thing tends to cause many bad things to happen; in evil, there is odds

百尺竿頭

ひゃくせきかんとう

the highest state of one's enlightenment; the highest level one can attain; the highest state of one's enlightenment

垂涎三尺

すいぜんさんじゃく

avid desire; drooling over (something); watering at the mouth; avid desire

尺取り虫

しゃくとりむし

An inchworm; Making slow but steady progress

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 尺 mean in Japanese?

尺 means shaku, Japanese foot, measure, scale, rule.

How do you read 尺?

On'yomi: シャク、セキ (SHAKU, SEKI). Kun'yomi: さし (sashi).

How many strokes does 尺 have?

尺 has 4 strokes. Its radical is 尸 (corpse).

Is 尺 a good kanji for a tattoo?

Yes. 尺 (shaku, Japanese foot, measure, scale, rule) has a clear positive meaning and no embarrassing alternate readings, making it a solid tattoo choice.

Explore by meaning:kanji for shaku · kanji for measure · kanji for scale · kanji for rule