寸すん

す

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

Traditional Japanese unit of length, about 3.03 cm. Still used in some contexts like carpentry, sewing, and idiomatic expressions.

この板いたの厚あつさは一いっ寸すんです。
This board is one sun thick.

noun

length; measurement

Refers to length or measurement in a general sense, often used in set phrases or when talking about dimensions.

寸すん法ぽうを測はかってください。
Please measure the dimensions.

noun

shortness; tininess

Used figuratively to indicate a very small amount or shortness, often in negative expressions like 寸が足りない (to be a little short).

See also: 寸が足りない (すんがたりない)

あと一いっ寸すんのところで電でん車しゃに乗のり遅おくれた。
I missed the train by a hair's breadth.

Usage patterns

〈数すう〉寸すんmeasured in units of sun (a traditional unit of length)
この板いたは三さん寸ずんの厚あつさがある。
This board is three sun thick.
寸すんが足たりないto be a little too short (in length)
ズボンの丈たけは寸すんが足たりない。
The trousers are a bit too short in the leg.

Expressions

寸すん善ぜん尺しゃく魔まevil outweighs good; one good thing brings many bad things
寸すんが詰つまるbe short; be shorter than usual · shrink
寸すん分ぶん違たがわずexactly; perfectly; without the slightest difference
寸すん分ぶん違たがわぬexactly the same; identical; perfect
美び味みも喉のど三さん寸すんgood things do not last long
一いっ寸すんの光こう陰いん軽かろんずべからずevery moment is precious; make hay while the sun shines

Kanji

寸measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little

Related words

寸すん法ぽうN2sense 2
寸 alone refers to the unit or general notion of length, whereas 寸法 is the compound noun meaning the specific measurements or dimensions of an object.
尺しゃく
尺 is the larger traditional unit (about 30.3 cm), while 寸 is one-tenth of a 尺 (about 3.03 cm) and often used together with it in measurements.

Don't confuse with

尺しゃく sense 1
寸 is a small traditional unit of length (about 3.03 cm), while 尺 is a much larger traditional unit (about 30.3 cm, equal to ten 寸), so learners often mix up which one is meant.
寸すん法ぽうN2
寸 is a traditional unit of length (about 3 cm) or a component in compounds, whereas 寸法 is the full word meaning dimensions or a planned arrangement.

Word family· 42

寸すん前ぜん
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of · just in front of; just ahead of
寸すん法ぽうN2
dimensions; measurements; size · plan; arrangement; intended course
一いっ寸すん
one sun (approx. 3 cm) · a little bit; a short time; a short distance
寸すん劇げき
short play; skit
寸すん断だん
cut to pieces; tear to shreds; shred

Show 16 more

採さい寸すん
taking measurements; measuring
原げん寸すん
actual size; full size
実じっ寸すん
actual size; exact size
寸すん分ぶん
tiny bit; the slightest amount
寸すん評ぴょう
brief review; short comment
五ご寸すん釘くぎ
five-sun nail; long nail; spike
三さん寸ずん
three sun (approx. 9.1 cm) · something small, short, or thin (roughly three sun in size) · stall-keeper; huckster; hawker · lowest-rank prostitute
八はっ寸すん
eight sun; approx. 24 cm · eight-sun dish; kaiseki tray; food on such a dish · thick traditional Japanese paper
内ない寸すん
inside dimensions; internal dimensions
外がい寸すん
external dimensions; outer size
寸すん借しゃく
small loan; borrowing a small amount
寸すん刻こく
moment; instant; brief time
寸すん土ど
an inch of land; a tiny piece of land
寸すん地ち
an inch of ground; a tiny piece of land
寸すん尺しゃく
length; measure · short length
寸すん志し
small present; token of appreciation; with compliments

See all 42 in Explore →

Written forms

寸すんUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling for the traditional unit of length and related figurative uses.
スンUsage8%
すんUsage4%

Etymology

The kanji 寸 originally depicted a hand with a mark indicating the pulse point, later used as a unit of length. The reading すん is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.

寸すん

す

ん

Freq.FrequencyTop 2,000

Meanings

noun

sun (approx. 3 cm)

Traditional Japanese unit of length, about 3.03 cm. Still used in some contexts like carpentry, sewing, and idiomatic expressions.

この板いたの厚あつさは一いっ寸すんです。
This board is one sun thick.

noun

length; measurement

Refers to length or measurement in a general sense, often used in set phrases or when talking about dimensions.

寸すん法ぽうを測はかってください。
Please measure the dimensions.

noun

shortness; tininess

Used figuratively to indicate a very small amount or shortness, often in negative expressions like 寸が足りない (to be a little short).

See also: 寸が足りない (すんがたりない)

あと一いっ寸すんのところで電でん車しゃに乗のり遅おくれた。
I missed the train by a hair's breadth.

Usage patterns

〈数すう〉寸すんmeasured in units of sun (a traditional unit of length)
この板いたは三さん寸ずんの厚あつさがある。
This board is three sun thick.
寸すんが足たりないto be a little too short (in length)
ズボンの丈たけは寸すんが足たりない。
The trousers are a bit too short in the leg.

Expressions

寸すん善ぜん尺しゃく魔まevil outweighs good; one good thing brings many bad things
寸すんが詰つまるbe short; be shorter than usual · shrink
寸すん分ぶん違たがわずexactly; perfectly; without the slightest difference
寸すん分ぶん違たがわぬexactly the same; identical; perfect
美び味みも喉のど三さん寸すんgood things do not last long
一いっ寸すんの光こう陰いん軽かろんずべからずevery moment is precious; make hay while the sun shines

Kanji

寸measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little

Related words

寸すん法ぽうN2sense 2
寸 alone refers to the unit or general notion of length, whereas 寸法 is the compound noun meaning the specific measurements or dimensions of an object.
尺しゃく
尺 is the larger traditional unit (about 30.3 cm), while 寸 is one-tenth of a 尺 (about 3.03 cm) and often used together with it in measurements.

Don't confuse with

尺しゃく sense 1
寸 is a small traditional unit of length (about 3.03 cm), while 尺 is a much larger traditional unit (about 30.3 cm, equal to ten 寸), so learners often mix up which one is meant.
寸すん法ぽうN2
寸 is a traditional unit of length (about 3 cm) or a component in compounds, whereas 寸法 is the full word meaning dimensions or a planned arrangement.

Word family· 42

寸すん前ぜん
just before; on the verge of; on the brink of · just in front of; just ahead of
寸すん法ぽうN2
dimensions; measurements; size · plan; arrangement; intended course
一いっ寸すん
one sun (approx. 3 cm) · a little bit; a short time; a short distance
寸すん劇げき
short play; skit
寸すん断だん
cut to pieces; tear to shreds; shred

Show 16 more

採さい寸すん
taking measurements; measuring
原げん寸すん
actual size; full size
実じっ寸すん
actual size; exact size
寸すん分ぶん
tiny bit; the slightest amount
寸すん評ぴょう
brief review; short comment
五ご寸すん釘くぎ
five-sun nail; long nail; spike
三さん寸ずん
three sun (approx. 9.1 cm) · something small, short, or thin (roughly three sun in size) · stall-keeper; huckster; hawker · lowest-rank prostitute
八はっ寸すん
eight sun; approx. 24 cm · eight-sun dish; kaiseki tray; food on such a dish · thick traditional Japanese paper
内ない寸すん
inside dimensions; internal dimensions
外がい寸すん
external dimensions; outer size
寸すん借しゃく
small loan; borrowing a small amount
寸すん刻こく
moment; instant; brief time
寸すん土ど
an inch of land; a tiny piece of land
寸すん地ち
an inch of ground; a tiny piece of land
寸すん尺しゃく
length; measure · short length
寸すん志し
small present; token of appreciation; with compliments

See all 42 in Explore →

Written forms

寸すんUsage89%
Standard kanji spelling for the traditional unit of length and related figurative uses.
スンUsage8%
すんUsage4%

Etymology

The kanji 寸 originally depicted a hand with a mark indicating the pulse point, later used as a unit of length. The reading すん is the Sino-Japanese on'yomi.