尺 means “shaku, measure, scale”

しゃく · shaku

Also: Japanese foot

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading): さし
On'yomi (Chinese reading): シャク, セキ

JLPT N1 · Taught in grade 6 · 4 strokes

The story

Picture a hand spread wide, thumb to finger, measuring a span: 尺 is the shaku, about 30 centimeters, Japan's old foot. The 尺八 bamboo flute is named for its length, one shaku eight sun, and 縮尺 is a map's scale.

Used in 尺八 (shakuhachi, bamboo flute), 縮尺 (shukushaku, scale of a map), and 尺度 (shakudo, measure/yardstick)

尺 means “shaku, measure, scale”

The story

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