一寸(いっすん)

A traditional Japanese unit of length equal to approximately 3.03 centimeters (about 1.2 inches). Part of the 尺貫法(しゃっかんほう) system of traditional measurement. Today mainly encountered in set phrases, proverbs, and cultural references.

Famous phrases

• 一寸(いっすん)法師(ぼうし): Issun-bōshi, the fairy tale of a boy only one sun tall (similar to Tom Thumb)
• 一寸(いっすん)の虫(むし)にも五分(ごぶ)の魂(たましい): even a worm will turn (literally: even a one-sun insect has half a soul)
• 一寸(いっすん)先(さき)は闇(やみ): the future is unpredictable (literally: darkness lies one sun ahead)

Pronunciation

The kanji 一寸(いっすん) can also be read as ちょっと in casual writing, meaning "a little bit." Context determines the reading: in measurement or set phrases, it is いっすん; when used as an adverb meaning "a bit," it is ちょっと.

Similar words

• 寸(すん): sun (the unit itself)
• 尺(しゃく): shaku — a larger traditional unit (about 30.3 cm, or 10 sun)
• ちょっと: a little — the colloquial reading of the same kanji