Translation guide
The English word "scaling" covers several distinct concepts: climbing, removing scales from fish, changing size proportionally, and the buildup of hard deposits. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
To climb up or over something, especially a steep surface like a wall, cliff, or mountain.
General verb for climbing. Can be used for mountains, stairs, trees, etc. When used for walls or cliffs, it implies scaling them.
He scaled the wall.
The mountaineer scaled the rock face.
To clamber up, scramble up. Emphasizes using hands and feet to climb something steep or difficult.
The children scaled the fence.
Literary or technical term for climbing, often used in mountaineering contexts. Implies scaling with effort.
He scaled the sheer cliff.
To remove the scales from a fish before cooking.
Standard phrase meaning 'to remove scales'. Used in cooking contexts.
Please scale the fish.
Literally 'to drop/remove scales'. Also common in cooking.
Scale the fish with a knife.
Noun meaning 'scaling' (the act of removing scales) or a tool for scaling fish.
It's easy if you use a fish scaler.
To increase or decrease the size of something while maintaining proportions, such as images, models, or systems.
Noun meaning 'scaling' (enlargement and reduction). Often used in computing and design.
You can scale the image.
Loanword from English, used in technical contexts like computing, mathematics, and business.
To change the scale (e.g., of a map or drawing).
Please scale the map.
Proportional enlargement. Used in technical or mathematical contexts.
Scale up this figure proportionally.
The accumulation of hard mineral deposits, such as in pipes, kettles, or teeth.
Loanword commonly used for mineral deposits in appliances and plumbing.
Scale has built up in the kettle.
Specifically refers to limescale or water scale.
Dental calculus or tartar. Used only for teeth.
English 'scaling' has very different Japanese equivalents depending on context. Using 登る for removing fish scales or スケーリング for climbing will cause confusion. Always identify the intended meaning first.
This system is easy to scale.
水道の蛇口に水垢がついている。
There is scale on the faucet.
I had the scale removed from my teeth.