When learning Japanese, vocabulary and grammar are important…
but understanding Japanese units can make daily life in Japan MUCH easier 👀
Whether you’re shopping, reading menus, checking temperatures, or talking about money, these units appear everywhere.
Let’s learn some useful Japanese units you’ll often encounter in Japan 🌸
💴 円（えん）= Yen
The Japanese currency unit.
Examples:
- 100円 = 100 yen
- 1,000円 = 1,000 yen
One thing that surprises many learners is:
Japanese often counts large numbers using 「万（まん）」.
- 1万円 = 10,000 yen
- 5万円 = 50,000 yen
So instead of saying “ten thousand,” Japanese groups numbers differently from English.
You’ll hear this constantly in:
- shopping
- salaries
- rent
- restaurants
📏 ミリ / センチ / メートル / キロ
Japan mainly uses the metric system.
Common units include:
- ミリ (mm) = millimeters
- センチ (cm) = centimeters
- メートル (m) = meters
- キロ (km) = kilometers
Examples:
- 身長は170センチです。= My height is 170 cm.
- 駅まで2キロです。= It’s 2 km to the station.
If you’re from a country using feet or miles, this can take some getting used to!
🚗 キロ毎時（km/h）
Used for speed.
Examples:
- 時速60キロ = 60 km/h
- 制限速度は80キロです。= The speed limit is 80 km/h.
Japan uses kilometers per hour, not miles per hour.
You’ll see this on:
- road signs
- car navigation systems
⚖️ グラム / キロ
Used for weight.
Examples:
- お肉100グラム = 100 grams of meat
- 体重は60キロです。= My weight is 60 kg.
In Japanese supermarkets, food is often sold by grams.
You’ll especially see this for:
- meat
- vegetables
- side dishes
instead of pounds or ounces.
🥤 ミリリットル / リットル
Used for liquid amounts.
Examples:
- 500ミリリットルのペットボトル = a 500 ml plastic bottle
- 毎日2リットルの水を飲みます。= I drink 2 liters of water every day.
You’ll see these on:
- drink bottles
- milk cartons
- cooking recipes
In casual conversation, Japanese people often shorten:
- ミリリットル → ミリ
🌡️ 度（ど）
「度（ど）」 is used in several ways in Japanese.
Temperature
- 30度 = 30 degrees Celsius
- マイナス5度 = minus 5 degrees Celsius
Japan uses Celsius, not Fahrenheit.
Eyesight
In Japan, eyesight is commonly measured using numbers like:
- 視力1.0 = Eyesight: 1.0
- 視力0.3 = Eyesight: 0.3
Angles
「度（ど）」 is also used for angles.
Examples:
- 90度 = 90 degrees
- 180度 = 180 degrees
So 「度（ど）」 does not only mean temperature 👀
Final Thoughts 🌸
Japanese units are deeply connected to everyday life in Japan.
Many are international:
- meters
- kilograms
- liters
- km/h
At first, these units may feel confusing…
but once you get used to them, everyday Japanese becomes MUCH easier 🇯🇵
