noun
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).
酒屋で一升枡を買った。
I bought a one-shō measuring box at the liquor store.
米を升で量る。
Measure rice with a masu.
noun
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.
歌舞伎座の升席は人気がある。
The box seats at the Kabuki-za are popular.
noun
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.
クロスワードのマスを埋める。
Fill in the squares of the crossword puzzle.
表の各マスに数字を入れてください。
Please put a number in each cell of the table.
noun
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.
この古い神社の柱の上には斗が使われている。
Square bearing blocks are used on top of the pillars in this old shrine.
Rare variant kanji form.
Variant kanji form, less common but still encountered.
Used specifically for the architectural sense of a square bearing block.
The word ます originally referred to a square wooden measuring box. The shape gave rise to extended meanings such as theatre box seats and grid cells. The architectural term using 斗 is a specialized use of the same character.