巻まき尺じゃく

ま

き

じゃ

く

Meanings

1

tape measure; measuring tape

A flexible ruler used for measuring length, often retractable or rolled up.

大だい工くさんは巻まき尺じゃくで木もく材ざいの長ながさを測はかった。
The carpenter measured the length of the lumber with a tape measure.
裁さい縫ほう用ようの巻まき尺じゃくを買かいました。
I bought a measuring tape for sewing.

See all 6 example sentences ›

Usage patterns

巻まき尺じゃくで〈物もの〉を測はかるto measure something with a tape measure
巻まき尺じゃくで部屋へやの幅はばを測はかった。
I measured the width of the room with a tape measure.
巻まき尺じゃくを伸のばすto pull out (extend) a tape measure
巻まき尺じゃくを伸のばして木きの高たかさを確かく認にんした。
I pulled out the tape measure to check the height of the tree.
巻まき尺じゃくを巻まき戻もどすto retract (roll back) a tape measure
使つかい終おわったら巻まき尺じゃくを巻まき戻もどしてしまう。
When you're done, retract the tape measure and put it away.

Kanji

巻scroll, volume, book
尺shaku, Japanese foot, measure

Related words

メジャー
メジャー is a casual loanword for a tape measure, while 巻尺 is the standard native Japanese term used in more formal or technical contexts.

Don't confuse with

物もの差さしN3
物差し is a rigid, flat ruler used for straight measurements, whereas 巻尺 is a flexible tape that rolls up and can measure curved or long distances.

Counted with

本ほんN5
Used for 巻尺 (measuring tape) because it's a long, thin object, like other 細長い tools counted with 本.

Built from

巻まき+尺しゃく

Written forms

巻まき尺じゃくUsage52%
Standard kanji spelling; the most common written form.
巻まき尺じゃくUsage48%
Alternate spelling with okurigana; less common but still encountered.

Etymology

Compound of 巻く (maku, 'to roll up') + 尺 (shaku, a traditional unit of length, here meaning 'measure'). The reading じゃく is a rendaku form of 尺.