Skip to content
道Nihongo Path

Word 2715 of 2920

Save Sign in to track

物差し

ものさし

ruler, measure, yardstick (also figurative: criterion)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 物差しで線を引いた。

    ものさしでせんをひいた。

    I drew a line with a ruler.

  2. 物差しでその棒の長さを測りなさい。

    ものさしでそのぼうのながさをはかりなさい。

    Measure the length of the stick with a ruler.

  3. 人を成績だけの物差しで測ってはいけない。

    ひとをせいせきだけのものさしではかってはいけない。

    You shouldn't judge people by the single yardstick of their grades.

Common patterns

物差しで測る
to measure with a ruler
自分の物差し
one's own standard of judgement
物差しを当てる
to lay a ruler against something

Memory tip

物 (thing) + 差し (holding out to measure). Like English 'yardstick', it doubles as a metaphor for a criterion — 自分の物差しで人を測る means to judge others by your own standards. For a drawing ruler with straight edges, 定規 is the more technical word.

Kanji in this word

Quick check

1 / 2Multiple choiceDifficulty 3 of 5

What does 物差し mean?