Translation guide
The English word "meter" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones: a unit of length, a measuring device, and poetic rhythm. It also notes less common uses like parking meters and postage meters.
Expressing the metric unit of length equal to 100 centimeters.
The standard Japanese word for the meter as a unit of length. Used in all contexts.
This room is 5 meters long.
I broke the record for the 100-meter dash.
The symbol 'm' is commonly used in written Japanese, especially in technical or abbreviated contexts. It is read as メートル.
My height is 1.7 meters.
Referring to a device that measures and records the amount of something used, such as gas, water, or electricity.
The general term for a measuring device. Often used for utility meters (gas, water, electricity) and other gauges.
Please check the gas meter.
A more formal or technical term for a measuring instrument. Can be used for various types of meters, but メーター is more common in everyday speech.
Referring to the rhythmic structure of verse, the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables.
The standard term for poetic meter or rhythm. Used in literary and academic contexts.
The meter of this poem is beautiful.
Sometimes used in music or poetry contexts, but 韻律 is more precise for poetry. メーター can refer to musical time signature as well.
A device that collects payment for parking a vehicle in a designated space for a limited time.
The standard term for a parking meter. Often shortened to パーキング in casual contexts.
I put coins in the parking meter.
A machine that prints postage directly onto mail, used by businesses.
The formal term for a postage meter. Often simply referred to as メーター in office contexts.
We process large volumes of mail using a postage meter.
The water meter is broken.
この計量器は正確です。
This measuring instrument is accurate.
この曲のメーターは4分の4拍子です。
The meter of this piece is 4/4 time.