半はん間げん

noun

half a ken (approx. 0.91 m)

Traditional Japanese unit of length; 1 ken = 6 shaku ≈ 1.82 m, so half a ken is 3 shaku ≈ 0.91 m. Used in architecture and carpentry.

• この柱はしらの間かん隔かくは半はん間げんです。

  The spacing between these pillars is half a ken.