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A2 noun #3,000 le plus courant 7 min de lecture

メートル

meetoru
Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces メートル en 30 secondes
Explication メートル in your Level:
At the A1 level, 'メートル' is introduced as a basic vocabulary word for describing distance. Learners use it in very simple sentences to talk about things they see or do. For example, 'I ran 100 meters' or 'The station is 500 meters away.' At this stage, the focus is on the katakana recognition and the ability to pair it with basic numbers (1 to 1000). Learners are not expected to know complex grammar, just the basic 'Number + mētoro' structure. It is one of the first loanwords students learn because it is identical in concept to the metric system used in most of the world, providing a 'safe' word to use while navigating Japan. The primary goal is to be able to understand simple signs and directions.
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At the A2 level, learners expand their use of 'メートル' to describe their surroundings in more detail. They start using particles like 'de' (within/by) and 'no' (possessive/modifying). An A2 learner should be able to say 'The building is 50 meters high' or 'Please give me 2 meters of this string.' They also begin to distinguish between 'mētoro' and its related units like 'senchi' and 'kiro'. At this level, the word appears in contexts like giving directions to a taxi driver or asking for specific lengths in a shop. The learner should also be comfortable hearing 'mētoro' in weather reports or simple news snippets about sports. Understanding the scale of a meter in relation to daily objects is a key competency here.
By B1, 'メートル' is used in more complex sentence structures and varied contexts. Learners can discuss topics like travel itineraries, sports statistics, and basic technical specifications. They might use 'mētoro' to explain a problem, such as 'The pipe is 3 meters too short.' They also start to encounter the word in written texts like brochures, manuals, and newspaper articles. B1 learners should be aware of the difference between 'mētoro' (the unit) and 'mētā' (the gauge), as this is a common point of confusion in technical discussions. They can also use 'mētoro' with comparative structures, such as 'This bridge is 100 meters longer than that one.'
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At the B2 level, the use of 'メートル' becomes more precise and technical. Learners can engage in discussions about architecture, environmental issues (like rising sea levels), or scientific data. They understand the nuances of using 'mētoro' in professional settings. For example, in a business meeting about a construction project, a B2 learner can accurately describe dimensions and tolerances. They are also familiar with more formal ways to express distance, such as 'shikai go-hyaku mētoro' (visibility of 500 meters) in a formal weather briefing. They can handle the word in fast-paced audio, such as sports commentary where multiple distances are cited rapidly.
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At the C1 level, 'メートル' is used with high fluency and in specialized academic or professional contexts. The learner can discuss the history of the metric system in Japan or the socio-economic impact of infrastructure projects measured in thousands of meters. They understand metaphorical or idiomatic uses, even if they are rare, and can interpret the word in literary contexts where distance might represent emotional or social gaps. A C1 learner can switch between 'mētoro' and traditional units like 'shaku' when discussing Japanese culture or history, explaining the conversion and the cultural significance of each. Their use of the word is indistinguishable from a native speaker's in terms of collocation and register.
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At the C2 level, the learner has a masterly command of 'メートル' and all its implications. They can use it in highly technical scientific papers, legal documents regarding land measurement, or complex poetic works. They are aware of the most obscure historical ateji for the word and can discuss the linguistic evolution of measurement terms in the Japanese language. A C2 learner can critique the use of measurement in media or literature, noting how the choice of 'mētoro' over a traditional unit changes the tone of a piece. They can effortlessly navigate any context, from a high-stakes engineering debate to a nuanced discussion on the aesthetics of space and distance in Japanese architecture.
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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

メートル en 30 secondes

  • Standard unit of length in Japan, written in katakana as メートル.
  • Used for distance, height, depth, and sports measurements.
  • Replaced traditional units like 'shaku' during the late 19th century.
  • Essential for daily navigation, shopping, and scientific communication.

The word メートル (mētoro) is the Japanese phonetic transcription of the international unit of length, the "meter." In the modern Japanese linguistic landscape, it serves as the foundational unit for measuring distance, height, and depth, having been officially adopted during the Meiji Era as part of Japan's rapid Westernization and modernization efforts. Before the introduction of the metric system, Japan relied on the shakkanhō system (尺貫法), which used units like shaku and sun. Today, while those traditional units are occasionally seen in carpentry or traditional arts, mētoro is the absolute standard for science, education, and daily life.

Etymology
Derived from the French 'mètre', which in turn comes from the Greek 'metron' (measure).
Kanji Representation
While almost exclusively written in Katakana today, the kanji 米 (read as 'bei' or 'me') was historically used as an ateji for meter. This is why the United States is called 'Beikoku' (Rice Country/Meter Country) in Japanese.
Grammatical Role
It functions as a counter-noun. It follows a number directly without the need for additional particles in simple measurement phrases.

このプールの長さは25メートルです。 (The length of this pool is 25 meters.)

In a broader cultural sense, the adoption of the meter represented Japan's shift toward global scientific standards. It is not just a unit; it is a symbol of precision. In Japanese schools, children are taught to visualize a meter through physical objects, such as the length of a large step or the width of a standard desk. This visualization helps learners internalize the scale, which is crucial for A2-level proficiency where describing one's environment becomes a primary goal.

あと100メートルで駅に着きます。 (We will arrive at the station in another 100 meters.)

Visualizing Distance
1m is roughly the height of a doorknob from the floor.
Precision
In manufacturing, 'mētoro' is the base from which 'miri' (mm) and 'senchi' (cm) are derived.

標高3776メートルの富士山は、日本で一番高い山です。 (Mount Fuji, at an altitude of 3776 meters, is the highest mountain in Japan.)

この布を3メートル買いたいです。 (I want to buy 3 meters of this cloth.)

彼は100メートルを11秒で走ります。 (He runs 100 meters in 11 seconds.)

Using メートル correctly involves understanding its placement within a sentence and its relationship with numbers and particles. As a unit of measurement, it typically follows a number. In Japanese, the number and the unit 'mētoro' form a single semantic block. For example, 'go-mētoro' (5 meters). Unlike English, there is no plural form; whether it is 1 meter or 100 meters, it remains 'mētoro'.

1. Basic Sentence Patterns

The most common pattern is [Distance] + [Particle] + [Verb]. For instance, '100メートル走る' (to run 100 meters). Here, the distance acts as an adverbial phrase describing the extent of the action. Another common pattern is [Noun] + [は] + [Number] + [メートル] + [です], used for stating dimensions: 'この川の幅は50メートルです' (The width of this river is 50 meters).

The Particle 'で'
Used to indicate the total distance covered: '5メートルで100円です' (It's 100 yen for 5 meters).
The Particle 'の'
Used to modify a noun: '50メートルのプール' (A 50-meter pool).
The Particle 'も'
Used for emphasis: '100メートルも泳いだ' (I swam as much as 100 meters).

2. Combining with Prefixes

While 'mētoro' is the base, it is frequently used with SI prefixes. Learners must distinguish between 'senchi-mētoro' (cm), 'miri-mētoro' (mm), and 'kiro-mētoro' (km). In daily conversation, these are often shortened to 'senchi', 'miri', and 'kiro', but 'mētoro' itself is rarely shortened to 'mē'. However, in technical drawings or sports commentary, you might see 'm' used as a symbol.

あと数メートルでゴールだ！ (Just a few more meters to the goal!)

When discussing height, especially for people, Japanese people use 'senchi' (e.g., 170センチ) rather than 'mētoro' (1.7メートル). 'Mētoro' is reserved for larger objects like buildings, mountains, or depths of water. Using 'mētoro' for a person's height sounds overly clinical or like a police report.

You will encounter メートル in various settings across Japan, ranging from the mundane to the highly specialized. Understanding these contexts helps in predicting when the word will appear and what it implies about the scale of the discussion.

1. Transportation and Navigation

In a car or walking, GPS systems (car navigation) constantly use 'mētoro'. You will hear: '300メートル先、右方向です' (300 meters ahead, turn right). Train stations also use it to indicate the length of platforms or the distance between exits. Signs like '出口まで200メートル' (200 meters to the exit) are ubiquitous.

2. Sports and Physical Education

In Japanese schools, 'taiku' (PE) class is a primary place where students use this word. The '100-mētoro sō' (100m dash) and '50-mētoro pūru' (50m pool) are standard terms. During the Olympics or local marathons, commentators will shout the remaining distance in meters to build excitement.

3. Weather and Nature

Weather reports use 'mētoro' for visibility ('mishikai' - visibility of 500 meters) and for the height of waves ('nami no takasa wa 3-mētoro' - waves are 3 meters high). It is also the standard for measuring snowfall depth, though 'senchi' is more common for light snow.

Real Estate
While 'tsubo' is used for land area, the distance from the station is always in meters (e.g., 徒歩5分/400メートル).
Retail
Fabric stores, hardware stores, and ribbon shops sell items 'mētoro-uri' (by the meter).

Even though メートル is a loanword, its usage in Japanese has specific nuances that can trip up English speakers or learners from countries using imperial units.

1. Confusion with Imperial Units

Many English speakers instinctively think in feet or yards. In Japan, these units are virtually non-existent. If you say '3 yards', most Japanese people will have no visual concept of that distance. Always convert to 'mētoro'. A common mistake is assuming '1 meter' is exactly '1 yard'; while close, the 10% difference matters in construction or sports.

2. Pronunciation and Spelling

The Katakana is メートル. A common error is writing メトル (Metoru) or メータ (Mētā). While 'mētā' (メーター) exists, it refers to a 'meter' as in a measuring device (like a gas meter or a speedometer), not the unit of length. Confusing 'mētoro' (unit) with 'mētā' (device) is a classic learner mistake.

Incorrect
ガスメートル (Gasu mētoro) - Wrong unit for a device.
Correct
ガスメーター (Gasu mētā) - Correct device name.

3. Height of People

As mentioned, don't say 'Watashi wa 1.8-mētoro desu'. It sounds like you are a piece of furniture. Use '180-senchi' (hyaku-hachijū senchi). 'Mētoro' is for things you can't easily measure with a small ruler, or for geographical features.

To master メートル, you must understand its neighbors in the measurement family and the traditional units that still linger in the language.

1. Metric Siblings

  • センチメートル (Senchi-mētoro): Often just 'senchi'. Used for height, waist size, and small objects.
  • キロメートル (Kiro-mētoro): Often just 'kiro'. Used for long distances between cities or marathon lengths.
  • ミリメートル (Miri-mētoro): Often just 'miri'. Used for extreme precision, like the thickness of a smartphone or rainfall amounts.

2. Traditional Units (Shakkanhō)

While not used for official measurements, these words appear in literature, history, and specific crafts:

尺 (Shaku)
About 30.3 cm. Similar to a 'foot'. Still used in kimono making and traditional architecture.
寸 (Sun)
About 3.03 cm. 1/10th of a shaku. Used in the name of the folk tale 'Issun Bōshi' (The One-Inch Boy).
里 (Ri)
About 3.9 km. You'll see this in old stories or place names.

3. Area Units

Don't confuse 'mētoro' (length) with 'hēbē' (square meters) or 'tsubo'. If you are looking for an apartment, you will see '20m²' often read as 'nijū-hēbē'.

How Formal Is It?

Niveau de difficulté

Grammaire à connaître

Numbers and Counters

Approximate numbers (gurai, hodo)

Particles (de, no, mo)

Stating dimensions

Comparative degree

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Exemples par niveau

1

100メートル走ります。

I run 100 meters.

Number + unit.

2

駅まで500メートルです。

It is 500 meters to the station.

Describing distance.

3

このひもは1メートルです。

This string is 1 meter long.

Stating length.

4

2メートル歩いてください。

Please walk two meters.

Instruction with distance.

5

海はここから300メートルです。

The sea is 300 meters from here.

Location relative to distance.

6

1メートルは100センチです。

One meter is 100 centimeters.

Defining units.

7

あと10メートル！

10 more meters!

Exclamation.

8

バス停は50メートル先にあります。

The bus stop is 50 meters ahead.

Directional distance.

1

このプールの深さは2メートルあります。

This pool is 2 meters deep.

Describing depth.

2

3メートルの布をください。

Please give me 3 meters of cloth.

Quantity for purchase.

3

彼は100メートルを12秒で走ります。

He runs 100 meters in 12 seconds.

Time taken for distance.

4

あと200メートルで右に曲がってください。

In 200 meters, please turn right.

Navigation instruction.

5

この部屋の幅は4メートルです。

The width of this room is 4 meters.

Describing dimensions.

6

木から5メートル離れてください。

Please stay 5 meters away from the tree.

Maintaining distance.

7

100メートルも泳げません。

I can't even swim 100 meters.

Emphasis with 'mo'.

8

このタワーの高さは何メートルですか？

How many meters high is this tower?

Questioning height.

1

その建物は、ここから500メートルほど離れた場所にあります。

That building is located about 500 meters away from here.

Approximate distance with 'hodo'.

2

100メートル走の予選が始まります。

The 100-meter dash qualifiers are starting.

Compound noun.

3

この道路は幅が10メートル以上あります。

This road is more than 10 meters wide.

Using 'ijō' (more than).

4

彼は200メートル個人メドレーに出場した。

He competed in the 200-meter individual medley.

Specific sports terminology.

5

視界が100メートル以下になり、運転が危険です。

Visibility has dropped below 100 meters, making driving dangerous.

Using 'ika' (less than).

6

この布を1.5メートルに切ってください。

Please cut this cloth to 1.5 meters.

Decimal measurements.

7

標高2000メートルの山に登りました。

I climbed a mountain with an altitude of 2000 meters.

Describing altitude.

8

あと数メートルで、歴史的な瞬間が訪れます。

In just a few more meters, a historic moment will arrive.

Dramatic context.

1

誤差はわずか数ミリメートル以内に抑えられています。

The error is kept within just a few millimeters.

Technical precision.

2

津波の高さが3メートルに達すると予想されています。

The tsunami height is expected to reach 3 meters.

Disaster prevention context.

3

このトンネルは全長5000メートルに及びます。

This tunnel extends for a total length of 5000 meters.

Formal description of length.

4

100メートルあたりのコストを計算してください。

Please calculate the cost per 100 meters.

Calculating unit cost.

5

選手たちはラスト100メートルでスパートをかけた。

The athletes put on a spurt in the last 100 meters.

Sports narrative.

6

このカメラは水深50メートルまで耐えられます。

This camera can withstand depths of up to 50 meters.

Technical capability.

7

土地の境界線を数メートル移動させる必要があります。

We need to move the property boundary line by a few meters.

Legal/Technical context.

8

電波の届く範囲は半径100メートル程度です。

The range of the radio waves is about a 100-meter radius.

Describing range.

1

この建築計画では、天井高を3メートル確保することが条件となっている。

In this architectural plan, ensuring a ceiling height of 3 meters is a condition.

Professional architectural terms.

2

海面が1メートル上昇するだけで、多くの島々が水没の危機に瀕する。

If the sea level rises by just one meter, many islands will be at risk of submersion.

Environmental discourse.

3

彼はメートル法の導入が日本の近代化に与えた影響を論じた。

He discussed the impact that the introduction of the metric system had on Japan's modernization.

Academic discussion.

4

100メートル走におけるコンマ一秒の差が、勝敗を分ける。

In the 100-meter dash, a difference of a tenth of a second separates victory from defeat.

Nuanced sports analysis.

5

その彫刻は、数メートル離れた位置から鑑賞するのが最も美しい。

That sculpture is most beautiful when viewed from a position several meters away.

Aesthetic judgment.

6

この精密機器は、マイクロメートル単位の調整が可能です。

This precision instrument allows for adjustments in micrometer units.

High-level technical spec.

7

都市計画において、道路幅員を12メートル以上に拡張する案が出された。

In urban planning, a proposal was made to expand the road width to 12 meters or more.

Formal administrative language.

8

彼はメートル原器の歴史について深い造詣を持っている。

He has deep knowledge about the history of the international prototype meter.

Specialized knowledge.

1

メートル法の普遍性は、国境を越えた科学的対話を可能にした礎である。

The universality of the metric system is the foundation that enabled scientific dialogue across borders.

Philosophical/Scientific abstraction.

2

文学作品において、主人公が歩む「数メートル」は、しばしば心理的な距離を象徴する。

In literary works, the 'few meters' a protagonist walks often symbolizes psychological distance.

Literary analysis.

3

ナノメートルの世界では、我々の常識とは異なる物理法則が支配している。

In the nanometer world, physical laws different from our common sense prevail.

Advanced physics context.

4

メートル条約の締結は、国際的な度量衡の統一における画期的な出来事であった。

The signing of the Metre Convention was a landmark event in the international unification of weights and measures.

Historical/Legal precision.

5

その詩の韻律は、あたかも正確なメートルのように刻まれている。

The rhythm of that poem is carved as if it were an exact meter.

Metaphorical use in arts.

6

極微の誤差も許されない宇宙開発において、メートルの定義は極めて重要だ。

In space development, where not even the slightest error is permitted, the definition of the meter is extremely important.

High-stakes technical context.

7

社会的な「1メートルの距離」が、パンデミックを経て新たな意味を持つようになった。

The social 'one-meter distance' has taken on new meaning following the pandemic.

Sociological observation.

8

彼は、古代の計測単位をメートルに換算する膨大な作業に一生を捧げた。

He dedicated his life to the enormous task of converting ancient units of measurement into meters.

Biographical narrative.

Collocations courantes

100メートル走
数メートル
メートル法
メートル原器
1メートル当たり
標高〜メートル
水深〜メートル
幅〜メートル
全長〜メートル
〜メートル先

Phrases Courantes

あと数メートル
100メートル泳ぐ
メートルを上げる
50メートル道路
1000メートル級の山
メートル単位で
メートル売り
メートル表記
メートル表示
メートル計

Souvent confondu avec

メートル vs メーター

メートル vs マイル

メートル vs メトロ

Expressions idiomatiques

"メートルを上げる (to get high-spirited/drunk)"
"メートルが上がる (to be in high spirits)"
"一メートルも引かない (not to back down an inch/meter)"
"メートル読み (reading in meters)"
"メートル感覚 (sense of distance in meters)"
"メートル刻み (in meter increments)"
"メートル越え (exceeding a meter)"
"メートル級 (meter-class/huge)"
"メートル並み (on the scale of meters)"
"メートル仕立て (made to meter specs)"

Facile à confondre

メートル vs

メートル vs

メートル vs

メートル vs

メートル vs

Structures de phrases

Famille de mots

Apparenté

メーター
計量
測定
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Comment l'utiliser

precision

Use decimals for precision (e.g., 1.5メートル).

colloquialism

Rarely shortened to 'mē' in speech.

Erreurs courantes
  • Using 'mētoro' for a person's height.
  • Pronouncing it as 'metoro' with a short 'e'.
  • Confusing it with 'mētā' (gauge).
  • Trying to pluralize it (e.g., mētorusu).
  • Using 'yard' or 'feet' in Japan.

Astuces

Visualize it

One meter is roughly one large step for an adult. Use this to estimate distances in Japanese.

No Particles Needed

You don't need a particle between the number and 'メートル'. Just say 'go-mētoro'.

Long Vowel

The 'mē' is long. Practice saying 'meee-toro' to get the rhythm right.

City Signs

Look for 'm' or 'メートル' on street signs to practice reading distances.

Metric vs Imperial

1 meter is slightly longer than 1 yard (about 3.3 feet).

Fabric Stores

When buying fabric, specify the length in meters using '...mētoro kudasai'.

GPS Settings

Set your phone's GPS to Japanese to hear 'mētoro' used in real-time directions.

Track and Field

Watch Japanese sports news to hear 'mētoro' used for race results.

Mountain Heights

Heights of mountains are always in meters. Fuji-san is 3776m.

Not 'Mētā'

Remember: 'Mētoro' is the length, 'Mētā' is the tool.

Mémorise-le

Origine du mot

French 'mètre'

Contexte culturel

Size is given in square meters (hēbē), but distance to the station is always in linear meters.

Its height (3776m) is a piece of trivia every Japanese person knows.

Often placed every few hundred meters in cities.

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

Amorces de conversation

"ここから駅まで何メートルくらいありますか？"

"100メートルを何秒で走れますか？"

"このプールの長さは25メートルですか？"

"富士山の高さは何メートルか知っていますか？"

"あと何メートルで着きますか？"

Sujets d'écriture

今日、何メートルくらい歩きましたか？

あなたの家から一番近いコンビニは何メートル先にありますか？

100メートル走の思い出を書いてください。

もし1000メートルの山に登るなら、何を準備しますか？

「メートル」という言葉を初めて聞いたのはいつですか？

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Only for buildings or mountains. For people, use 'senchi'.

Technically yes (米), but it's very rare and not recommended.

No, Japanese nouns do not have plural forms. 1m and 10m are both 'mētoro'.

It refers to a gauge, like a taxi meter or a water meter.

Hēbē (平米) or hōhō-mētoro (平方メートル).

No, the US uses yards/miles, but Japan is strictly metric.

Because it is a loanword from French/English.

Rei-ten-go mētoro.

Selling something by the meter, like rope or fabric.

Yes, it is basic N5/N4 (A1/A2) vocabulary.

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