Translation guide
The English word "scales" can refer to weighing devices, musical sequences, fish skin, or the concept of relative size. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
A device for measuring weight, such as a bathroom scale or kitchen scale.
Specifically a bathroom scale for measuring body weight. Very common.
毎朝体重計に乗る。
I get on the scales every morning.
General term for scales or balances. Can be used for kitchen scales, shop scales, etc.
キッチンはかりで小麦粉を量る。
Weigh the flour on the kitchen scales.
Balance scale, often the classic two-pan type. Also used metaphorically.
天秤で重さを比べる。
Compare weights using a balance scale.
A series of musical notes in ascending or descending order.
Standard term for musical scale.
ピアノで音階を練習する。
Practice scales on the piano.
Loanword from English, often used in music contexts.
The small, flat plates covering the skin of fish, snakes, etc.
The relative size, extent, or magnitude of something.
Refers to scale in terms of size, scope, or magnitude of an event, project, etc.
そのプロジェクトは大規模だ。
The project is on a large scale.
Loanword used for abstract scale, often in phrases like スケールが大きい (large-scale).
Scale of a map, drawing, or model (ratio).
Although スケール is a loanword, it is not used for weighing scales. Use 体重計 or はかり instead.
ギターでスケールを弾く。
Play scales on the guitar.
彼の考え方はスケールが大きい。
His way of thinking is on a grand scale.
この地図の縮尺は1万分の1です。
The scale of this map is 1:10,000.