松竹梅
shōchikubai
The phrase for small, medium, large in Japanese is 松竹梅 (shōchikubai).
While 松竹梅 can refer to sizes, it is most commonly used to represent three tiers of quality or price. In this hierarchy, the first level is the highest or most expensive and the third level is the lowest or cheapest.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the characters for pine (松), bamboo (竹) and plum (梅).
Which one should you use?
Unlike the standard size descriptors shō, chū, dai (小, 中, 大), which refer to physical dimensions, 松竹梅 implies a hierarchy of quality or prestige.
How do you pronounce it?
shōchikubai
When do people say it?
This phrase is a traditional way to denote three graduated levels or sizes, and is often used in pricing or menu tiers.
Did you know?
- The hierarchy of these three plants is not based on their size, but on their symbolic way of enduring the seasons. Pine, bamboo, and plum are known as 'the three friends of winter' because they remain strong even in the cold.
- The phrase 松竹梅 is not just for products but can be used to describe three different levels of a person's skill or rank in certain traditional arts.
- The phrase 松竹梅 arrived in Japan via Middle Chinese and was first recorded in a 1359 text. This means the concept of using these specific three plants as a tiered scale has been used for nearly 700 years.
Examples in context
- 松竹梅のプランがあります。Shō-chiku-bai no puran ga arimasu.There are small, medium, and large plans.
- 価格は松竹梅で決まっています。Kakaku wa shō-chiku-bai de kimatte imasu.The prices are set as small, medium, and large.
- 松竹梅のどれにしますか？Shō-chiku-bai no dore ni shimasu ka?Which one will you choose: small, medium, or large?
Example conversation
Ren and Yui are choosing a gift set at a store.
- 蓮 Renこのギフト、松竹梅のどれにする？kono gifuto, shōchikubai no dore ni suru?Which one of these gift sets should we get: small, medium, or large?
- 結衣 Yui真ん中の竹にしようよ。mannaka no take ni shiyō yo.Let's go with the medium one in the middle.
- 蓮 Renいい考えだね。じゃあそれにしよう。ii kangae da ne. jaa sore ni shiyō.That's a good idea. Let's do that.
- 結衣 Yui蓮、ありがとう。ren, arigatō.Thank you, Ren.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 松竹梅, CC BY-SA 4.0.
