メーター

also: メータ

メ

ー

タ

ー

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

meter; gauge; measuring device

Refers to an instrument or display that measures something, such as a taxi fare meter, gas meter, speedometer, or gauge.

タクシーのメーターがどんどん

上あ

がっ

て

いく

。

The taxi meter keeps going up.

月つきに一いち度ど、ガスのメーターを確かく認にんします。

I check the gas meter once a month.

2

noun

metre; meter; unit of length

Unit-of-length use corresponding to メートル. メートル is the standard form in formal measurement, but メーター is also used, especially in speech and some everyday expressions.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉のメーターが上あがるfor a meter/gauge (e.g. taxi fare) to go up
道みちが混こんでいて、タクシーのメーターがどんどん上あがっている。
The road is crowded, and the taxi meter keeps going up.
数すうメーター先さきa few meters ahead/away
数すうメーター先さきに犬いぬが立たっていた。
There was a dog standing a few meters ahead.
メーターを読よむto read a meter (e.g. gas or electric)
係かかり員いんが毎まい月つきガスのメーターを読よみに来くる。
An inspector comes every month to read the gas meter.
メーターを回まわすto run/start the meter (e.g. in a taxi)
運うん転てん手しゅは乗じょう客きゃくが乗のるとすぐにメーターを回まわした。
The driver started the meter as soon as the passenger got in.

Related words

計けい器きN1sense 1
計器 is a more formal, Sino-Japanese term for a measuring instrument, while メーター is the everyday katakana word for the same kind of gauge.
ゲージ
メーター is the general word for any measuring meter, while ゲージ specifically refers to a gauge for measuring dimensions, pressure, or conforming to a standard.

Don't confuse with

メートル sense 2
メートル and メーター look and sound alike, but メートル is the standard word for the unit of length while メーター usually refers to the measuring device itself.
メーカーN2
メーカー (manufacturer) and メーター (a measuring gauge, like on a taxi or utility meter) look and sound similar in katakana but mean completely different things.

Counted with

台だいN4
stand; base; platform; table; rack · setting (of a gem); mounting · stock (in grafting) · counter for machines and vehicles · level; mark; range; decade (of one's life) · tall building (with a fine view); observation platform · plateau; heights

Word family· 28

Written forms

メーターUsage87%
Main katakana form; used for measuring devices and also for the length unit in some contexts.
メータUsage13%
Shorter katakana variant. It is attested and often seen in technical or compact writing, while メーター is the safer general spelling.

Etymology

Written in katakana as a foreign-derived technical word, but no language of origin is specified. The spelling with a long vowel, メーター, is the main practical form.

ワンメーター

basic taxi fare; minimum fare

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