Translation guide
The English word "scale" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: size/extent, a measuring device, musical scales, and fish scales. It also briefly covers less common meanings like scaling a mountain or scaling an image.
Referring to the relative size, level, or extent of something, often in phrases like "on a large scale" or "the scale of the problem."
The most common and versatile word for "scale" in the sense of size, scope, or magnitude. Used for projects, businesses, events, etc.
The scale of that project is large.
Expand the scale of the business.
A loanword from English, often used in similar contexts to 規模, but can sound more modern or casual. Commonly used in phrases like スケールが大きい (large-scale, ambitious).
His way of thinking is on a grand scale.
Adjectival phrases meaning "large-scale" and "small-scale." Very common and natural.
A large-scale disaster occurred.
I run a small-scale shop.
Means "degree" or "extent," often used when "scale" refers to a level on some continuum.
The scale of the damage is still unknown.
A device used to measure weight, such as a bathroom scale or kitchen scale.
Specifically a scale for measuring body weight (bathroom scale).
I get on the scale every morning.
General word for scales or balances, used for weighing ingredients, luggage, etc. Can be written 秤 but often in kana.
The loanword can also mean a scale device, but it's less common and might be confused with other meanings. Use with caution.
体重計 or はかり are more specific and less ambiguous.
A series of musical notes in ascending or descending order.
The small, flat, hard plates covering the skin of fish, snakes, etc.
To climb up or over something steep.
To change the size of something while maintaining proportions, or to represent in proportion.
縮尺する means to scale down (or up) according to a scale ratio, often used for maps or models. 拡大縮小する is more general for digital images (zoom in/out).
Scale the map.
Scale the image.
Loanword used in technical contexts (computer graphics, engineering).
Scale this figure.
The ratio between the size of something and its representation, e.g., a 1:100 scale model.
Both mean "scale" in the sense of size or magnitude. 規模 is more formal and widely used in business, news, and academic contexts. スケール is a loanword that often appears in casual or marketing language (e.g., スケールが違う "on a different scale"). When in doubt, 規模 is safer.
This plan is too large in scale.
That company is on a different scale.
The loanword スケール is not used for fish or reptile scales. Always use 鱗 (うろこ) for that meaning.
The project was a large-scale undertaking.
I stepped on the scale this morning.
She practiced her scales on the violin.
キッチンはかりで小麦粉を量る。
Weigh the flour on a kitchen scale.
Put the luggage on the scale.
ブルーススケールを覚える。
Learn the blues scale.
Scale a wall.
1/72スケールの模型飛行機。
A 1/72 scale model airplane.