Asian Cooking Measurements: Understanding Japanese and Korean Units
Learn traditional Japanese and Korean measurement units like go, hop, and kun, and how to convert them to Western measurements.
Asian recipes, particularly Japanese and Korean ones, use measurement systems that can be unfamiliar to Western cooks. Understanding units like the Japanese go and the Korean cup can make the difference between a perfect dish and a frustrating experience. This guide covers the most common Asian cooking measurements and their Western equivalents.
Japanese Volume Measurements
Japanese cooking uses a traditional system of volume measurements based on the go, which is the standard unit for measuring rice. Most Japanese rice cookers include a cup that measures exactly 1 go. This is smaller than a US cup, which is an important distinction that trips up many cooks.
| Japanese Unit | Milliliters | US Cups | Common Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 go (合) | 180 mL | 3/4 cup | Rice, sake |
| 1 shaku (勺) | 18 mL | 1.2 tbsp | Sake, soy sauce |
| 1 sho (升) | 1,800 mL | 7.6 cups | Sake bottles, rice |
| 1 to (斗) | 18,000 mL | 76 cups | Large quantities |
Japanese Spoon Measurements
Modern Japanese recipes commonly use metric spoons alongside traditional measures. The key difference is that a Japanese tablespoon is 15 mL (same as US), but recipes may use metric cups of 200 mL rather than the US 240 mL cup.
| Japanese Term | English | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Kosaji (小さじ) | Small spoon (teaspoon) | 5 mL |
| Osaji (大さじ) | Big spoon (tablespoon) | 15 mL |
| 1 kappu (カップ) | 1 cup (metric) | 200 mL |
Korean Measurements
Korean recipes use a mix of metric measurements and traditional terms. A Korean cup (keop, 컵) is 200 mL, the same as the Japanese metric cup. Korean recipes also use unique tablespoon and teaspoon designations that match standard metric sizes.
| Korean Term | Romanization | Volume | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 큰술 | keunsul | 15 mL | 1 tablespoon |
| 작은술 | jageun-sul | 5 mL | 1 teaspoon |
| 컵 | keop | 200 mL | About 6.8 fl oz |
| 종이컵 | jongi-keop | 180 mL | Paper cup (common reference) |
Chinese Cooking Measurements
Chinese home cooking traditionally relies more on visual estimation and experience than precise measurements. However, modern Chinese recipes increasingly use standardized units.
| Chinese Term | Pinyin | Approximate Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 少许 | shao xu | Less than 1/8 tsp | "A tiny amount" |
| 适量 | shi liang | To taste | "Appropriate amount" |
| 一勺 | yi shao | 1 tablespoon | One spoonful |
| 半勺 | ban shao | 1/2 tablespoon | Half a spoonful |
| 一碗 | yi wan | 200-250 mL | One rice bowl |
| 一斤 | yi jin | 500 g | Chinese pound (jin) |
| 一两 | yi liang | 50 g | 1/10 of a jin |
Rice Measurement Differences
The rice cooker cup included with Asian rice cookers measures 1 go (180 mL), which is approximately 150 grams of uncooked rice. A US cup of rice is 240 mL, approximately 185-200 grams depending on the rice type. This difference matters because the water-line markings inside your rice cooker are calibrated to the included measuring cup, not to a standard US cup. If you use a US cup with a Japanese rice cooker, you will have too much rice for the indicated water level.
| Rice Measure | Volume | Dry Weight (approx.) | Cooked Yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 go (rice cooker cup) | 180 mL | 150 g | About 330 g (2 servings) |
| 1 US cup | 240 mL | 185-200 g | About 440 g (2-3 servings) |
| 1 metric cup | 250 mL | 195-210 g | About 460 g (2-3 servings) |
Soy Sauce and Seasoning Conversions
Asian recipes sometimes specify seasoning amounts by volume that assume a specific product. Japanese soy sauce (shoyu) is lighter and slightly sweeter than Chinese soy sauce. Korean soy sauce (ganjang) comes in different varieties with varying salt concentrations. When following a recipe from a specific cuisine, use that cuisine's soy sauce for the best results. If substituting, use about 25% less Chinese dark soy sauce when a recipe calls for Japanese soy sauce to avoid overpowering the dish.
Practical Tips for Following Asian Recipes
Keep a 200 mL metric measuring cup alongside your standard US measuring cups. When watching Japanese or Korean cooking videos, remember that their tablespoons and teaspoons are the same as Western ones, but their cups are smaller. For Chinese recipes that say "appropriate amount," start with less and adjust by tasting. Learning to cook by feel and taste is a fundamental part of Asian cooking tradition, and exact measurements are often viewed as starting points rather than rigid rules.