物差し (ものさし, monosashi) Japanese meaning: ruler | KotomoraI measured the length of the desk with a ruler.
Usage patterns
〈物〉を物差しで測るto measure something with a ruler
I measured the length of the paper with a ruler.
〈事〉を物差しにするto use something as a yardstick for judging
It's not good to judge people using success as your yardstick.
物差しを当てるto hold a ruler up against something
I held the ruler against the edge of the board and drew a line.
〈人〉の物差しで測るto judge something by one's own personal standard
You shouldn't judge others by your own standards.
物指Usage2%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used abbreviated kanji form.
物差Usage1%
Abbreviated kanji form, less common but still encountered.
