三さん寸ずん

noun

three sun (approx. 9.1 cm)

Traditional Japanese unit of length; one sun is about 3.03 cm, so three sun equals roughly 9.1 cm. Used in historical or traditional contexts.

See also: 寸 (すん)

• この刀かたなの刃は渡わたりは三さん寸ずんほどだ。

  The blade of this sword is about three sun long.

noun

something small, short, or thin (roughly three sun in size)

Figurative use referring to anything notably small, short, or thin, likened to the length of three sun. Often used in set phrases like 三寸の舌 (a glib tongue) or 三寸不爛の舌 (eloquence).

• 三さん寸ずんの舌したで人ひとを動うごかす。

  Move people with a glib tongue.

noun

stall-keeper; huckster; hawker

Slang term for a street vendor or stall-keeper, especially in traditional market contexts. Possibly derived from the small size of their stalls or goods.

See also: 的屋

• 縁えん日にちで三さん寸ずんが声こえを張はり上あげている。

  At the fair, the hawker is shouting loudly.

noun

lowest-rank prostitute

Archaic term for a prostitute of the lowest rank in the Edo period. Not used in modern Japanese.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、三さん寸ずんは最さい下か層そうの遊ゆう女じょを指さした。

  In the Edo period, 三寸 referred to the lowest class of prostitute.