Translation guide
Expressing that one thing is in proportion to another, or that something should be proportional.
Expressing that A is proportional to B, or that A increases/decreases in proportion to B.
Standard pattern for 'A is proportional to B'. Used in both technical and everyday contexts.
Demand is proportional to price.
Risk is proportionate to return.
Means 'A changes according to B', implying proportionality. More natural in casual speech.
Salary changes in proportion to experience.
Implies that A depends on B, often with a sense of proportionality. Common in spoken Japanese.
Success is proportionate to effort.
The verb 'to be proportional'. Often used in mathematical or formal contexts.
In this graph, x and y are proportional.
Expressing that something should be appropriate or matching in degree, often in terms of reward, punishment, or effort.
Means 'B that is commensurate with A'. Very common for expressing that something matches or is suitable for a given level.
We got results proportionate to our efforts.
I'm not getting paid a salary proportionate to my experience.
Similar to 見合った, but slightly more formal. Often used in rules or systems.
Pay taxes proportionate to income.
Means 'B suitable for A'. Often used for social status, age, or ability.
Behave in a way that is proportionate to your age.
Expressing that one thing decreases as another increases.
Standard pattern for 'A is inversely proportional to B'.
As price rises, demand falls in inverse proportion.
比例する is strictly mathematical or formal proportionality. 見合う implies a matching or balancing of value/effort. 応じる means 'according to' and is more flexible, often used in rules or systems.
Do not directly translate 'be proportionate to' as '比例している' in casual contexts; it sounds overly technical. Use 見合った or 応じた for natural speech.
The punishment should be proportionate to the crime.
His salary is not proportionate to his workload.