How to say "scale" in Japanese

• 規模きぼJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounCovers 'scale' as size or scope: how large a project, business, or event is. Reach for it in 'the scale of the operation'; it does not cover fish, music, or measuring instruments.
  我々われわれのクラスは規模きぼが大おおきくなった。↗

  Our class has increased in size.
• スケールCommon
  nounThe katakana loanword. It names the scale of a measuring instrument and is also used for the grandness of a person or plan; for a project's size, 規模 is the safer choice.
• うろこCommon
  nounThe scales of fish, snakes, and similar animals — the small hard plates on their bodies. This is the word you want for that sense, and it is usually written in kana alone, not kanji.
• 音階おんかいCommon
  nounThe musical sense: an ascending or descending series of notes, the 'scale' a musician practices. It is the word you want only for this sense, never for size, animals, or measuring instruments.
  レッスンの時ときは毎日まいにち音階おんかいを歌うたっていたのを覚おぼえています。↗

  I remember singing scales every day during music lessons.
• 目盛りめもりJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe graduations marked on a ruler, thermometer, or similar device — the 'scale' you read a measurement against. It points to the markings themselves rather than the instrument as a whole.
  この定規じょうぎにはミリメートルの目盛めもりがある。↗

  This ruler has the scale in millimeters.

Choose 規模 for a project's size or scope, 「スケール」 for an instrument's scale or a person's grandness, 「うろこ」 for fish and snake scales, 音階 for musical scales, and 「目盛り」 for graduations on a ruler or thermometer.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 規模きぼscale
• スケールscale
• うろこscale (of fish, snake, etc.)
• 音階おんかいscale
• 目盛りめもりgraduations (on a ruler, thermometer, etc.)
• 鱗粉りんぷんscale
• 位取るくらいどるto scale
• 衡器こうきscale
• 体重計たいじゅうけいscale
• 湯垢ゆあかscale (i.e. hard water coating in a kettle, etc.)
• 鱗屑りんせつscale (i.e. of pathologically dry skin)
• 登りきるのぼりきるto scale (mountain, flight of stairs, etc.)
• 計量器けいりょうきmeter
• よじ登るよじのぼるto climb
• 鱗片りんぺん(animal or plant) scale
• 尺しゃくrule
• 尺度しゃくど(measuring) rule
• 物差しものさしstandard
• 仕掛けしかけ(small) scale