Meaning and Usage
The verb 計る (はかる) primarily means "to measure" or "to weigh," and it is used when quantifying physical quantities such as temperature, time, distance, or weight. It can also mean "to survey" or "to estimate" in some contexts.
Common Contexts
- Measuring physical quantities: body temperature, weight, distance, time.
- Checking duration or intervals.
- Surveying or estimating something indirectly.
Collocations and Patterns
- 体温を計る (たいおんをはかる): to measure body temperature.
- 時間を計る (じかんをはかる): to measure time.
- 距離を計る (きょりをはかる): to measure distance.
Register and Usage Notes
計る is a neutral verb used in both casual and formal contexts. It is often used with scientific or precise measurements. Do not confuse 計る with 測る (also はかる), which is used more specifically for measuring length, distance, or depth, and 量る, which is used for measuring volume or quantity.
Common Mistake
Learners often confuse 計る with 測る and 量る because they share the same reading. Remember 計る is more general for measuring time, temperature, or planning, while 測る is for physical measurements like length or depth, and 量る is for volume or amount.