桁
けた
digit, figure (place in a number); crossbeam, girder
By Nihongo PathUpdated
Examples
この数字は桁が一つ多いですよ。
このすうじはけたがひとつおおいですよ。
This figure has one digit too many.
計算するとき、最後の二桁は省いてもいい。
けいさんするとき、さいごのふたけたははぶいてもいい。
When you calculate it, you may leave off the last two digits.
彼の収入は私とは桁が違う。
かれのしゅうにゅうはわたしとはけたがちがう。
His income is in a different league from mine.
古い橋の桁が木でできていて驚いた。
ふるいはしのけたがきでできていておどろいた。
I was surprised that the girders of the old bridge were made of wood.
Common patterns
- 桁が違う
- to be on a completely different scale
- 二桁の数
- a two-digit number
- 桁外れ
- extraordinary, off the scale
Memory tip
Everyday Japanese uses 桁 mostly for decimal places, and 桁が違う is a very common way of saying 'a whole order of magnitude apart'. The original sense, a horizontal beam, survives mainly in bridge and building vocabulary.
Kanji in this word
- 桁Not in the N5–N1 kanji lists
Quick check
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What does 桁 mean?