三角形(さんかっけい)

さんかっけい
noun
triangle
science
1. triangle
A geometric shape with three sides and three angles.
Please measure the angles of this triangle.
三角形(さんかっけい)の面積(めんせき)を求(もと)める。
To calculate the area of a triangle.
An equilateral triangle has three sides of equal length.

三角形(さんかっけい) is the formal mathematical term for a triangle. The kanji mean "three" + "angle" + "shape." In everyday speech, 三角(さんかく) is more commonly used.

Types

  • 正(せい)三角形(さんかっけい): equilateral triangle
  • 二等辺(にとうへん)三角形(さんかっけい): isosceles triangle
  • 直角(ちょっかく)三角形(さんかっけい): right triangle

Related words

  • 三角(さんかく): triangle (informal/everyday), triangular
  • 四角形(しかっけい): quadrilateral
  • 円(えん): circle
  • 五角形(ごかっけい): pentagon

Usage

三角(さんかく) is used in everyday contexts (三角(さんかく)のおにぎり, a triangular rice ball), while 三角形(さんかっけい) is used in math and geometry.