量 — Quantity, Amount, Measure

Meaning

量 means quantity, amount, volume, and measurement — put simply, how much of something there is. Weight, sound level, rainfall, food portions, data storage: whenever Japanese needs to pin down a measurable portion of something, 量 is usually there.

Etymologically, 量 is a compound ideograph (会意文字). The upper part resembles 日 (sun or opening), and the lower part is 里 (village, unit of distance). The ancient form depicted a measuring vessel — a container that gauged capacity by how much it could hold. That image of filling something to a precise level evolved into the modern concept of quantifying any substance or phenomenon.

量 has 12 strokes and is taught in Grade 4 of Japanese elementary school, so most Japanese speakers learn it around age 9–10. Its radical is 里, connecting it to measurement and distance. You will encounter 量 constantly: on product labels, in recipes, in weather reports, in physics textbooks, in tech specs.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

The on'yomi リョウ is overwhelmingly dominant. Paired with another kanji, 量 is almost always read リョウ — in formal writing, scientific contexts, and everyday conversation alike.

大量たいりょう (tairyō) — large quantity, mass amount
重量じゅうりょう (jūryō) — weight, heavy load
音量おんりょう (onryō) — sound volume
分量ぶんりょう (bunryō) — portion, measured amount
数量すうりょう (sūryō) — numerical quantity, count

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

The kun'yomi はか.る (hakaru) means to measure or to weigh. Three different kanji share this reading — 測はかる (distance or depth), 計はかる (calculate or plan), and 量はかる — so context is everything. 量る specifically implies measuring weight or volume rather than length or numbers.

量はかる (hakaru) — to measure, to weigh
量はかり (hakari) — a scale, a balance (the weighing instrument)

Common Words & Compounds

量 pairs readily with other kanji. Key words grouped by theme:

Expressing size of quantity:

大量たいりょう (tairyō) — large quantity (e.g. 大量生産たいりょうせいさん = mass production)
少量しょうりょう (shōryō) — small amount, a little
適量てきりょう (tekiryō) — appropriate amount, the right quantity
過量かりょう (karyō) — excessive amount, overdose

Physical measurement:

重量じゅうりょう (jūryō) — weight, gravitational mass
軽量けいりょう (keiryō) — lightweight
質量しつりょう (shitsuryō) — mass (physics term)
容量ようりょう (yōryō) — capacity, volume (e.g. storage capacity)

Scientific and technical:

測量そくりょう (sokuryō) — surveying, land measurement
計量けいりょう (keiryō) — measurement, weighing (official or precise)
熱量ねつりょう (netsuryō) — calories, heat energy
降水量こうすいりょう (kōsuiryō) — precipitation, rainfall

Everyday usage:

音量おんりょう (onryō) — sound volume (TV, speaker)
分量ぶんりょう (bunryō) — portion size, share of quantity
数量すうりょう (sūryō) — quantity (especially of countable items)
血液量けつえきりょう (ketsueki-ryō) — blood volume

Example Sentences

この薬くすりは適量てきりょうを守まもって飲のんでください。

Kono kusuri wa tekiryō wo mamotte nonde kudasai.

Please take this medicine in the appropriate dosage.

音量おんりょうを少すこし下さげてもらえますか。

Onryō wo sukoshi sagete moraemasu ka.

Could you turn down the volume a little?

大量たいりょうのデータを処理しょりするのに時間じかんがかかる。

Tairyō no dēta wo shori suru no ni jikan ga kakaru.

It takes time to process a large amount of data.

レシピ通どおりの分量ぶんりょうで作つくれば失敗しっぱいしない。

Reshipi dōri no bunryō de tsukureba shippai shinai.

Stick to the recipe's exact portions and you won't go wrong.

このスーツケースの重量じゅうりょうは制限せいげんを超こえている。

Kono sūtsukēsu no jūryō wa seigen wo koete iru.

This suitcase exceeds the weight limit.

今月こんげつの降水量こうすいりょうは例年れいねんより多おおい。

Kongetsu no kōsuiryō wa reinen yori ōi.

This month's rainfall is higher than average.

食事しょくじの量りょうを減へらして体重たいじゅうを管理かんりしている。

Shokuji no ryō wo herashite taijū wo kanri shite iru.

I'm managing my weight by cutting back on how much I eat.

このパソコンの容量ようりょうはもう満杯まんぱいに近ちかい。

Kono pasokon no yōryō wa mō manpai ni chikai.

This computer's storage is nearly full.

少量しょうりょうの塩しおを加くわえると味あじが引ひき立たつ。

Shōryō no shio wo kuwaeru to aji ga hikitatsu.

A pinch of salt brings out the flavor.

Memory Tip

Picture a village elder (里) standing under the midday sun (日), carefully using a measuring jar to portion out rice for every household. The sun shines down so he can see exactly how much each family receives — not too much, not too little. This image of precise, fair measurement under bright light captures the essence of 量: the measured quantity of things. Every time you see 量, think of that careful elder with his jar, ensuring the right amount is given. The kanji's shape itself — wide at the top, grounded at the bottom — resembles a vessel filled to just the right level.