How to say "meter" in Japanese

• メーターJLPT N2approx.Common
  nounCovers the measuring-device sense: an instrument that displays a quantity such as speed, distance, or electricity used. This katakana word is the everyday choice for gauges and meters on machines.
  メーターの数字すうじを読よんでください。↗

  Read the meter.
• メートルJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounThe unit-of-length sense only: one metre as a measure of distance or size. It never refers to a measuring instrument, so do not reach for it when talking about a gauge or a device.
  １マイルは約やく１６００メートルにあたる。↗

  A mile is equal to about 1,600 meters.
• 拍子ひょうしCommon
  nounThe musical sense of meter: the regular beat pattern of a piece, such as time signature in music. Use it when discussing rhythm and beats, not instruments or the unit of length.
• 計器けいきJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounAlso the measuring-device sense, but as a more formal, technical word for instruments and gauges, often in engineering or industrial contexts. For casual everyday talk about a meter, メーター is usually the word you want.
  例たとえば、温度計おんどけいや気圧計きあつけいなどの計器けいきは器具きぐです。↗

  For instance, gauges, such as thermometers and barometers, are instruments.
• 韻律いんりつCommon
  nounThe poetic sense of meter: the rhythmic structure of verse. It is really about prosody in poetry, so it is seldom the word you want for measuring devices or the unit of length.
  言葉ことばによる詩しとは、要約ようやくして言いえば、韻律いんりつ的てき美びの創造そうぞうであるとしたい。↗

  I would define, in brief, the poetry of words as the Rhythmical Creation of Beauty.

Use 「メートル」 for the unit of length, 「メーター」 or 計器 for a measuring device, and 拍子 or 韻律 for rhythm in music or poetry.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• メーターmeter
• メートルmetre (unit of length)
• 拍子ひょうしtime
• 計器けいきmeter
• 韻律いんりつmetre (of a poem)
• 平仄ひょうそくmeter (in Chinese poetry)
• 計量器けいりょうきmeter
• 計けいmeter
• Ｍエムmetre
• 調ちょうmeter (of a poem)