天秤(てんびん)

てんびん
noun
balance scale; Libra
1. balance scale; balance
A weighing device with two pans suspended from a horizontal beam.
天秤(てんびん)で重(おも)さを量(はか)る。
To weigh something with a balance scale.
両方(りょうほう)を天秤(てんびん)にかける。
To weigh both options (figuratively).
理科(りか)の実験(じっけん)で天秤(てんびん)を使(つか)って薬品(やくひん)の重(おも)さを量(はか)った。
We used a balance scale in the science experiment to weigh chemicals.
2. Libra (zodiac sign)
The seventh sign of the zodiac, represented by scales.
私(わたし)は天秤(てんびん)座(ざ)です。
I'm a Libra.
天秤(てんびん)座(ざ)の人(ひと)はバランス感覚(かんかく)がいいと言(い)われている。
It is said that Libras have a good sense of balance.
彼女(かのじょ)は天秤(てんびん)座(ざ)だから、何(なん)でも公平(こうへい)に考(かんが)えようとする。
She's a Libra, so she tries to think about everything fairly.

天秤(てんびん) refers to a balance scale with two pans, used both literally and figuratively.

COMMON EXPRESSIONS:

  • 天秤(てんびん)にかける: to weigh options, compare two things (often with a nuance of playing both sides)
  • 天秤(てんびん)座(ざ): Libra (zodiac sign, Sept 23 - Oct 23)
  • 天秤(てんびん)棒(ぼう): carrying pole with loads on both ends

FIGURATIVE USE:
The expression 天秤(てんびん)にかける often implies comparing two options in a calculating way, sometimes with a negative nuance of trying to have it both ways.

RELATED:

Related Words

Related: 秤(はかり) (scale (general))
Related: 体重計(たいじゅうけい) (bathroom scale)
general
Added 2026.1.16 17:17 · Revised 2026.6.16 3:53
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