尺しゃく寸すん

also: せきすん

しゃ

く

す

ん

Meanings

tiny thing; trifle; insignificant amount

Literally 'a shaku and a sun' (old units of length), used figuratively to mean something very small or trivial. Often appears in negative contexts or as a humble expression.

彼かれは尺しゃく寸すんの違ちがいも見み逃のがさない。
He doesn't overlook even the slightest difference.
尺しゃく寸すんの功こう績せきもない。
I have not even a trifling achievement.

Kanji

尺shaku, Japanese foot, measure
寸measurement, tenth of a shaku, a little

Related words

寸すん分ぶん
寸分 also means a tiny amount, but is more common and neutral; 尺寸 is more literary and often carries a humble or negative nuance.
僅わずか
僅か is a common adjective meaning 'a little' or 'few'; 尺寸 is a noun used in set phrases to emphasize extreme smallness or insignificance.

Written forms

尺寸Usage100%
- しゃくすん
  Standard kanji form; the reading しゃくすん is the most common.
- せきすん
  Alternate reading; less common than しゃくすん.
せきすん

Etymology

From the old Japanese units of length 尺 (shaku, about 30.3 cm) and 寸 (sun, about 3.03 cm). The combination figuratively denotes a very small distance or amount.