平方キロメートル
heihō kiromētoru
The Japanese phrase for "square kilometer" is 平方キロメートル (heihō kiromētoru).
平方キロメートル is used to denote a unit of area equal to a square with sides of one kilometer. In written Japanese, the abbreviation km² is frequently used instead of the full phrase.
What does it mean word for word?
The term consists of 平方 (heihō), which means "square" in a mathematical context and キロメートル (kiromētoru).
How do you pronounce it?
heihō kiromētoru
Did you know?
- Before the metric system, Japan used traditional units like 坪 (tsubo), which were based on the size of a tatami mat.
- The word 平方 (heihō) is used for 'square' in math, but to describe a physical square shape, Japanese uses 正方形 (seihōkei).
- The kanji 平 (hei) means 'flat' and 方 (hō) means 'direction', which together create the mathematical concept of 'squaring'.
Examples in context
- この公園は、面積が1平方キロメートル以上あります。Kono kouen wa, menseki ga ichi heihou kiromeetoru ijou arimasu.This park has an area of more than one square kilometer.
- その都市の面積は、約500平方キロメートルです。Sono toshi no menseki wa, yaku gohyaku heihou kiromeetoru desu.The area of that city is about 500 square kilometers.
- 1平方キロメートルの中に、どれくらいの木がありますか？Ichi heihou kiromeetoru no naka ni, dore kurai no ki ga arimasu ka?How many trees are there in one square kilometer?
Example conversation
Misaki and Yota are looking at a map of a national park.
- 美咲 Misakiこの国立公園の広さは、どのくらいですか？Kono kokuritsu kouen no hirosa wa, dono kurai desu ka?How large is this national park?
- 陽太 Yotaだいたい、10平方キロメートルくらいですよ。Daitai, juu heihou kiromeetoru kurai desu yo.It is about 10 square kilometers.
- 美咲 Misaki結構広いんですね！Kekkou hiroi n desu ne!That's quite large!
- 陽太 Yota歩いて回るのは大変そうです。Aruite mawaru no wa taihen sou desu.It looks like it would be hard to walk around.
