noun, noun, used as a suffix, counter
hand-span unit (approx. 18 cm)
Archaic unit of length based on the distance between the tip of the thumb and the tip of the middle finger when stretched apart. Used historically as a suffix or counter, e.g., 一咫 (ひとあた).
古い文献には「一咫」という長さの単位が出てくる。
The unit of length 'ひとあた' appears in old documents.
咫は親指と中指を広げた長さで、約18センチメートルにあたる。
An ata is the distance between the outstretched thumb and middle finger, about 18 centimeters.
Kana spelling for the archaic unit; useful for learners encountering the term in historical contexts.
Alternate kanji form, also archaic; 尺 more commonly read as しゃく (approx. 30.3 cm).
尺 (しゃく) is a more common traditional unit of length, approximately 30.3 cm, still used in some contexts like carpentry. 咫 (あた) is a much rarer, archaic unit about 18 cm.
寸 (すん) is another traditional unit, about 3.03 cm, often used in idiomatic expressions. 咫 is less common and refers to a hand-span.
The word あた is of native Japanese origin, referring to the span of a hand. The kanji 咫 is a Chinese character adopted for this meaning. The alternate reading た is a bound form used in compounds.