How to say "size" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounThe loanword taken straight from English: clothing, shoes, and goods come in sizes, and this is the natural word for asking for, stating, or comparing them.
- 面積めんせきnounNot size in general but area: the size of a plot of land, a room, or a floor, measured in square units. Use it when the question is how much surface space something covers.
- 大小だいしょうnounLiterally 'large and small', it treats size as a contrast or difference between things, not the measured size of one object. For the plain sense 'size', 大きさ or サイズ is the word you want.
- 寸法すんぽうnounMeasurement or dimensions: size as a set of figures — length, width, height — taken of an object or a body. The natural word when the point is whether something fits.
- 大きさおおきさnounThe general word for how big something is — the size or bulk of an object, animal, or building. Use it for the plain question 'how big?', rather than for labeled product sizes.
Use 「サイズ」 for everyday sizes of products and clothing, 「大きさ」 for how big something is, 寸法 for measured dimensions, 面積 for the size of land or floor space, and 大小 for relative size differences.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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