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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).
米を一升買った。
I bought one shou of rice.
一升瓶の日本酒をもらった。
I received a one-shou bottle of sake.
餅つきには三升の米を用意する予定だ。
We plan to prepare three shou of rice for the mochi pounding.
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:
- 一合 = approximately 180 ml
- 一升 = 10 合 = approximately 1.8 liters
- 一斗 = 10 升 = approximately 18 liters
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.