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shou; traditional Japanese unit of volume equal to approximately 1.8 liters
A traditional unit of measurement in the Japanese system. One shou equals approximately 1.8 liters and is still commonly used when measuring rice and sake. Ten shou make one to (斗).
A traditional unit of volume in the Japanese measuring system (尺貫法). One 升 equals approximately 1.8 liters (about 1.9 US quarts). Still widely used in everyday life for measuring 米 (rice) and 日本酒 (sake).
Measurement system
Common collocations
- 一升瓶: 1.8-liter bottle (standard sake bottle size)
- 一升炊き: rice cooker that holds one shou
- 升: the wooden measuring box itself (also read as ます)
Cultural note
The wooden 升 box used to measure one 升 is a symbol of prosperity and is sometimes used as a drinking vessel at celebrations. The word 升 is a homophone of 増す (to increase), making it an auspicious item.