換算

• Reading: かんさん
• Romaji: kansan
• Kanji breakdown: 換 (kan/ka) — exchange, substitute; 算 (san/kazu) — calculate, count
• Pronunciation: /kaŋ.saɴ/

Meaning

Conversion; calculation by translating a value from one unit, currency, or system into another.

A noun/する verb used whenever values are expressed in different units — currency (円換算 — converted to yen), time (時間換算 — in terms of hours), or caloric value (カロリー換算). It implies a systematic mathematical transformation, not approximation.

Examples

1. ドルを円に換算すると約15万円になる。 Converting dollars to yen gives approximately 150,000 yen.
2. 作業時間を時給に換算して請求書を作成した。 I created an invoice by converting working hours into an hourly rate.
3. 走行距離をカロリーに換算するアプリが便利だ。 An app that converts distance travelled into calories burned is useful.

Usage Guide

Context: finance, daily life, science

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound: 換 (exchange, substitute) + 算 (calculate, count). Together they convey the act of calculating an equivalent in a different system.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal