unit of length

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 尺 is associated with measuring length; its on-reading is しゃく.
• Basic usage: 尺度(しゃくど) means a measure or standard, while 巻き尺(まきじゃく) means a tape measure.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A standard of judgment and a measuring tool
  • 尺度 is used for a standard by which an object's value or success is judged. 成功を判断する尺度 means a standard for judging success.
  • 巻き尺 is the physical tape measure used to measure a window's width. In this word, the 尺 part is read じゃく.