升
Meanings
measuring container; measuring box; measure
A traditional square wooden box used for measuring volume, especially rice or sake. Also refers to the unit of measure itself (approx. 1.8 liters).
I bought a one-shō measuring box at the liquor store.
Measure rice with a masu.
box seat; theatre box
Refers to a boxed seating area in a theatre or similar venue, derived from the square shape of the measuring container.
The box seats at the Kabuki-za are popular.
square on a grid; cell of a grid
Used for squares in a grid, cells in a table, or boxes in a crossword puzzle. The katakana spelling マス is especially common for this sense.
Fill in the squares of the crossword puzzle.
Please put a number in each cell of the table.
square bearing block (at the top of a pillar)
Only when written 斗
Architectural term for a square wooden block placed on top of a pillar to support a beam. Restricted to the kanji 斗.
Square bearing blocks are used on top of the pillars in this old shrine.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉を升で量るto measure something with a masu (measuring box)
I measured out the rice with a masu and cooked it.
- 升席に座るto sit in a boxed seating area
I watched the sumo match from a box seat.
- マスを塗るto fill in a square or cell (on a grid)
I filled in the crossword squares one by one.