one sun (approx. 3 cm)
Traditional Japanese unit of length, roughly 3.03 cm. Used in historical or traditional contexts.
See also: 寸
This pillar is about one sun too short.
a little bit; a short time; a short distance
Figurative use derived from the small length unit. Often used adverbially to mean 'a little' or 'slightly'.
The future is impossible to predict.
The fog is so thick that I cannot see even a short distance ahead.
dwarf; midget; elf; Tom Thumb · Issun-bōshi (Japanese fairytale)
an inch ahead; the immediate future
at a snail's pace; inch by inch
quibbling; prevarication; making excuses
Combination of 一 (one) and 寸 (sun, a traditional unit of length). The figurative 'little bit' sense comes from the smallness of the unit.