1.
one shou; approximately 1.8 liters
A traditional Japanese unit of volume equal to approximately 1.8 liters. Still commonly used for measuring sake and rice.
日本酒を一升買った。
I bought one shou of sake.
一升瓶のワインを開けた。
We opened a 1.8-liter bottle of wine.
一歳の誕生日に一升餅を背負わせるのは日本の伝統だ。
Having a child carry a one-shou rice cake on their first birthday is a Japanese tradition.
A traditional unit of volume in the Japanese measurement system. One 升 equals approximately 1.8 liters (about 0.48 US gallons). Though the metric system is standard in Japan, 升 is still used in everyday life for sake and rice.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 一升瓶: 1.8-liter bottle (standard large sake bottle)
- 一升餅: one-shou rice cake (used in first birthday celebrations)
- 一升炊き: cooking one shou of rice
- 米一升: one shou of rice
MEASUREMENT CONTEXT:
- 1升 = 10合 = approximately 1.8 liters
- 10升 = 1斗
- A standard sake cup measure (一合) is one-tenth of a 升
CULTURAL NOTE:
The 一升餅 tradition involves making a child carry a heavy rice cake (about 1.8 kg) on their first birthday. The custom symbolizes hopes that the child will never go hungry. The word 一升 is a pun on 一生 (a lifetime).