てん
天
びん
秤
 
に
 
か
 
け
 
る

expression, Ichidan verb

Idiomatic expression.
  1. to weigh (one thing against another), to compare (the relative merits of two options), to weigh (something) on scales.
  2. to try to have it both ways, to play a double game, to have two strings to one's bow.

Variations

Pronunciation Kanji Kana Is Common
てん
天
びん
秤
 
に
 
か
 
け
 
る
天秤にかける てんびんにかける
てん
天
びん
秤
 
に
か
掛
 
け
 
る
天秤に掛ける てんびんにかける

Contained Kanji Breakdown

heavens, sky, imperial
テン あま- あも (1st, N5)
one, one radical (no.1)
イチ いっ ひと- (1st, N5)
large, big
ダイ おお- た (1st, N5)
person
ひと ニン ジン (1st, N5)
balances, scales, steelyard
ヒン はかり ショウ (Kentei Pre-1)
two-branch tree radical (no. 115)
カ いね (Kentei Pre-1)
katakana no radical (no. 4)
ヘツ えい よう (Kentei 1)
tree, wood
き モク こ- (1st, N5)
even, flat, peace
ヘイ たいら ひら (3rd, N3)
dry, parch, ebb
ひ.る カン ほ.す (6th, N2)
to divide