周囲
shūi[ɕɨːi]
The English word 'perimeter' is translated into Japanese as 周囲 (shūi).
周囲 refers to the sum of the distance of all the lengths of the sides of an object. The word 周囲 (shūi) can mean both the mathematical perimeter of a shape and the physical surroundings or vicinity of a location.
Meaning: sum of the distance of all the lengths of the sides of an object (noun)
Which one should you use?
While 周囲 is a general term for perimeter or surroundings, 外周 (gaishū) is more specifically used in geometry to refer to the outer boundary or outer perimeter of a shape.
How do you pronounce it?
shūi
Did you know?
- The term for the mathematical constant 'pi' is built directly from the word for the perimeter of a circle. It is written as 円周率, which literally translates to 'circle-perimeter-rate'.
- The character 周 in 周囲 can also be read as まわり (mawari). While 周囲 is a formal compound, まわり is the common spoken word for both a perimeter and the general neighborhood.
- The term 周囲 is used in official police reports to describe a security 'cordon' or 'perimeter' around a crime scene.
Examples in context
- 教室のまわりの長さを調べた。I measured the perimeter of the classroom.
- 庭のまわりの長さはどのくらいですか？What is the perimeter of the garden?
- この建物の周囲の長さはどのくらいですか？What is the perimeter of this building?
- 公園の周囲の長さを測ってください。Please measure the perimeter of the park.
- この町の建物の外周を調べました。I measured the perimeter of the buildings in this town.
- 庭の周囲を測ってください。Niwa no shuui o hakatte kudasai.Please measure the perimeter of the garden.
- 建物の周囲にフェンスを設置します。Tatemono no shuui ni fensu o setchi shimasu.We will install a fence around the perimeter of the building.
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are discussing landscaping plans for a new house.
- 蓮 Ren庭の周囲は何メートルくらいですか？Niwa no shuui wa nan metoru kurai desu ka?About how many meters is the perimeter of the garden?
- 結衣 Yuiだいたい四十メートルくらいだと思います。Daitai yonjuu metoru kurai da to omoimasu.I think it is about forty meters.
- 蓮 Ren結衣さん、フェンスの予算を計算して。Yui-san, fensu no yosan o keisan shite.Yui, please calculate the budget for the fence.
- 結衣 Yuiわかりました。すぐに計算しますね。Wakarimashita. Sugu ni keisan shimasu ne.I understand. I will calculate it right away.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “perimeter” translations and entries 周囲, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
