JLPT N2 Vocabulary – The homophones “計る・測る・量る”

Table of Contents

1. The homophones “計はかる・測はかる・量はかる”
2. 計はかる
3. 測はかる
4. 量はかる
5. Summary
6. Similar Articles
7. Comment

Q: Do I need to distinguish between the homophones “計はかる,” “測はかる,” and “量はかる”?

A: Although all three are read as はかる, they have clearly different meanings and usages. The appropriate kanji depends on what is being measured.

計はかる

[Meaning]
Used when calculating numbers or time

[Commonly used words]
時間じかん(time)・タイミング(timing)・タイム(time (in sports)・損得そんとく(gain and loss)・計画けいかく(plan) etc.

[Examples]
ストップウィッチで時間じかんを計はかりました。
I measured the time with a stopwatch.

体育たいいくの授業じゅぎょうで長ちょう距離きょり走そうのタイムを計はかるそうです。
They’re going to record the time for the long-distance run in P.E. class.

タイミングを計はかって連絡れんらくしますね。
I’ll contact you at the right time.

頃合ころあいを計はかって、上司じょうしに退職たいしょくする意志いしを伝つたえました。
I waited for the right moment and told my boss about my decision to resign.

The use of the kanji 「計けい」 indicates meanings such as “to calculate” or “to plan.” It is typically used in situations involving numerical values, time, or intentional actions.

[Examples]
作業さぎょうの時間じかんを計はかって、毎日まいにち記録きろくしましょう。
Let’s measure the time spent on the task and record it daily.

100メートルのタイムを計はかって、先生せんせいに報告ほうこくをしました。
I timed my 100-meter run and reported it to the teacher.

It is also used in idiomatic expressions such as the following:

タイミングを計はかる

[Meaning]
To determine the optimal timing

[Example]
今いまは社長しゃちょうが忙いそがしそうなので、タイミングを計はかって声こえをかけることにしました。
Since the president seems busy right now, I decided to wait for the right timing before speaking to him.

損得そんとくを計はかる

[Meaning]
To weigh the benefits and losses and make a decision accordingly

[Example]
彼かれはいつも損得そんとくを計はかって行動こうどうしています。
He always weighs the pros and cons before taking action.

測はかる

[Meaning]
Used when measuring things like length, width, height, depth, temperature, or speed

[Commonly used words]
身長しんちょう(height)・距離きょり(distance)・速度そくど(speed)・面積めんせき(area)・脈みゃく(pulse)・熱ねつ(body temperature)　etc.

[Examples]
毎朝まいあさ、気温きおんを測はかっています。
I measure the temperature every morning.

身長しんちょうを測はかったら少すこし伸のびていました。
When I measured my height, I found I had grown a little.

病院びょういんで血圧けつあつを測はかりました。
I had my blood pressure measured at the hospital.

グラウンド1周しゅうの長ながさを測はかりました。
We measured the length of one lap around the sports field.

“測はかる” is used when measuring physical dimensions or degrees—such as length, width, height, temperature, or speed—by using measuring instruments and expressing the results in numerical values.

[Examples]
看護かんご師しが患者かんじゃの脈みゃくを測はかっています。
The nurse is measuring the patient’s pulse.

大工だいくが土地とちの面積めんせきを測はかっています。
The carpenter is measuring the area of the land.

It is also used in figurative expressions like the following:

力量りきりょう／実力じつりょくを測はかる

[Meaning]
To assess or evaluate someone’s true ability or competence

[Example]
力量りきりょうを測はかるために、彼かれに何なにか課題かだいを与あたえましょう。
Let’s give him a task to measure his ability.

日本にほん語ごの実力じつりょくを測はかるために、JLPTを受うけました。
I took the JLPT to measure my Japanese proficiency.

量はかる

[Meaning]
Used when measuring things like weight, amount, or volume

[Commonly used words]
体重たいじゅう(body weight)・量りょう(quantity)・重おもさ(heaviness)　etc.

[Examples]
水みずの量りょうを量はかって、ボールに入いれました。
I measured the amount of water and poured it into the bowl.

材料ざいりょうをしっかり量はかってください。
Please measure the ingredients carefully.

子供こどもの体重たいじゅうを量はかりました。
I measured the child’s weight.

ナッツの量りょうを量はかってから袋ふくろに入いれましょう。
Let’s measure the amount of nuts before putting them into the bag.

“量はかる” is used when measuring visible quantities such as weight, size, or volume.
It is commonly used in everyday situations like cooking or in measurement settings.

[Examples]
このりんごの重おもさを量はかってくれない？
Could you measure the weight of this apple?

水みずの量りょうを間違まちがえないように、しっかり量はかってくださいね。
Please make sure to measure the amount of water carefully so you don’t make a mistake.

It is also used figuratively in expressions like the following:

（心中しんちゅう／気持きもちを）推おし量はかる

[Meaning]
To infer someone’s feelings not through direct answers, but by reading their facial expressions, mood, or atmosphere.

[Example]
彼女かのじょの暗くらい表情ひょうじょうから、不安ふあんな気持きもちを推おし量はかりました。
I sensed her anxiety from her gloomy expression.

人ひとの心こころは、外そとからは簡単かんたんに推おし量はかれるものではありません。
A person’s heart is not something that can be easily guessed from the outside.

Summary

	Meaning	Commonly used words	Expressions
計はかる	Used when calculating numbers or time.	Time, timing, schedule, gain or loss, planning.	タイミングを計はかる 損得そんとくを計はかる
測はかる	Used when measuring things like length, width, height, depth, temperature, and speed.	Height, distance, speed, area, pulse, body temperature.	力量りきりょう／実力じつりょくを測はかる
量はかる	Used when measuring things like weight, quantity, or volume.	Body weight, amount, and heaviness.	（心中しんちゅう／気持きもちを）推おし量はかる

Similar Articles

---

▼ Subscribe to Our Newsletter ▼

Receive free tips for learning Japanese!

Comment for any questions!