scale
scale — 動詞
1. to move upward over a very steep or vertical barrier — for instance a cliff wall
攀登；攀爬
用手腳攀登陡峭的垂直表面
to move upward over a very steep or vertical barrier — for instance a cliff wall or rock face — using your hands and feet and sometimes ropes or other gear
Sivan and her team used ropes to scale the steep granite cliff near the coast.
Sivan 和她的團隊使用繩索攀登海岸邊陡峭的花崗岩峭壁。
scale + steep surface (cliff)
Firefighters scaled the burning wall to rescue a family trapped upstairs.
消防隊員攀爬燃燒中的牆壁，救出受困在樓上的住戶。
rescue context with scale
During the storm, the cat managed to scale the tall wooden fence in the backyard.
暴風雨期間，那隻貓不知怎麼爬過了後院的高木柵欄。
Nikhil trained for months before scaling the highest rock face in the national park.
Nikhil 訓練了數月後，攀登了國家公園裡最高的岩壁。
The ancient castle walls were so smooth that no enemy army could ever scale them.
那座古堡的城牆非常光滑，沒有任何敵軍能攀爬上去。
- descend
to move downward
文法句型
scale + noun phrase (steep surface)
用法筆記
Describes deliberate effort to climb steep or vertical surfaces. Not used for ordinary staircases or gentle hills.
常見錯誤
2. to remove the hard mineral deposits and sticky bacteria film from a patient's te
洗牙；刮牙
清除牙齒上的礦物質沉積物
to remove the hard mineral deposits and sticky bacteria film from a patient's teeth during a professional dental treatment
The dentist spent twenty minutes carefully scaling Jiwoo's teeth to remove the built-up tartar.
牙醫花了二十分鐘仔細地為 Jiwoo 洗牙，以去除堆積的牙結石。
scale + teeth (dental procedure)
My hygienist recommends scaling my teeth every six months during regular check-up appointments.
我的牙科保健員建議我每六個月在定期檢查時洗牙。
recommend scaling + frequency
After the dentist scaled her teeth, Élise noticed her gums felt much cleaner and healthier.
牙醫為 Élise 洗完牙後，她覺得牙齦變得乾淨健康多了。
Kenji needed his teeth professionally scaled because brushing alone could not remove the thick plaque.
Kenji 需要接受專業洗牙，因為光靠刷牙無法清除厚厚的牙菌斑。
文法句型
scale + noun phrase (teeth)
用法筆記
Performed by a dentist or dental hygienist using specialized instruments. Not used for everyday tooth-brushing at home.
3. to scrape off the thin, flat protective plates that cover the skin of a fish so
刮魚鱗
刮除魚身上的鱗片以便烹調
to scrape off the thin, flat protective plates that cover the skin of a fish so that it can be cooked and eaten
Before frying the fish, Minh carefully scaled it with the back of her kitchen knife.
Minh 在煎魚之前，用菜刀背面仔細地刮掉魚鱗。
scale + fish (culinary prep)
Kwame watched his grandmother scale the fresh mackerel by running a blade along the skin.
Kwame 看著祖母用刀刃沿著魚皮來回刮除新鮮鯖魚的鱗片。
The fishmonger offered to scale the salmon for free if customers bought it that morning.
魚販表示，如果顧客當天早上購買鮭魚，可以免費幫忙刮鱗。
After catching trout, Tamar scaled and cleaned each fish beside the river before packing them.
Tamar 釣到幾條鱒魚後，在河邊把每條魚都刮鱗清理乾淨，然後才打包帶走。
文法句型
scale + noun phrase (fish)
用法筆記
Commonly done in home cooking or by fish sellers. The verb is rarely used for reptiles or other scaled animals in everyday English.
4. to change the size, amount, or capacity of something so that it matches a partic
調整；縮放
改變大小或容量以符合標準或需求
to change the size, amount, or capacity of something so that it matches a particular standard, requirement, or situation
The startup scaled its delivery service from one city to six within two years.
這家新創公司在兩年內將配送服務從一個城市擴展到六個。
scale + service + from X to Y
Allison scaled the recipe ingredients to serve twelve guests instead of the original four portions.
Allison 調整了食譜的食材分量，從原本的四人份改為十二人份。
The architects scaled the building plans to match the height limits set by the city government.
建築師調整了建築設計圖，以符合市政府規定的嚴格高度限制。
Ramón scaled his freelance photography rates according to the experience level of each client.
Ramón 根據每位客戶的經驗水準調整他的自由攝影收費標準。
Engineers scaled the production line to fit the available floor space in the new factory.
工程師調整了生產線，以配合新廠房的可用樓板空間。
- adjust
general term for any modification
- calibrate
implies precise adjustment to a standard
- proportion
to set dimensions in relation to a reference
文法句型
scale + noun + to/for + noun
be scaled to fit/meet/match
用法筆記
Often used in business, technology, and engineering contexts. The related phrasal verbs 'scale up' (increase) and 'scale back' (reduce) are more common in everyday speech for changing size.
常見錯誤
scale — 名詞
1. a system of marked points or levels arranged in a sequence, used as a standard t
刻度；量表
用於測量或比較的數字或等級系統
a system of marked points or levels arranged in a sequence, used as a standard to measure or show temperature, strength, quality, or similar quantities.
The Richter scale measures the strength of earthquakes from one to ten.
芮氏地震規模用一到十來測量地震的強度。
the [name] scale measures ...
On a scale of one to ten, how satisfied are you with the service?
在一到十分的範圍內，您對這項服務的滿意度如何？
on a scale of ... to ...
Xiu checked the temperature scale on the thermometer before going outside.
Xiu 出門前先查看了溫度計上的刻度。
The pay scale for this job starts at thirty thousand dollars a year.
這份工作的薪資級距從每年三萬美元起跳。
Teachers use a grading scale from A to F to evaluate student work.
老師使用從 A 到 F 的評分標準來評估學生的作業。
文法句型
the [name] scale
on a scale of ... to ...
pay scale / wage scale / grading scale
用法筆記
Often found in compound noun patterns such as 'the Richter scale', 'the Beaufort scale', 'pH scale', 'pay scale', or 'grading scale', where the first word names the field or system.
常見錯誤
2. how the real dimensions of an object or area compare to its dimensions on a map,
比例
地圖或模型上的尺寸與實際尺寸的比例關係
how the real dimensions of an object or area compare to its dimensions on a map, a model, or a drawing, usually shown as a ratio.
This map uses a scale of one centimeter for every ten kilometers.
這張地圖的比例尺是一公分代表十公里。
a scale of [ratio]
Christopher built a model of the ship at a scale of one to fifty.
Christopher 以五十比一的比例製作了這艘船的模型。
On architectural drawings the scale is usually printed at the bottom of the page.
在建築圖紙上，比例通常印在頁面底部。
Gita enlarged the diagram so that it was drawn exactly to scale.
Gita 放大圖表，使其與原圖保持相同比例。
Without a proper scale it is hard to tell how far apart the cities are.
沒有適當的比例，很難判斷這些城市之間的實際距離。
- ratio
a broader mathematical term; scale is a specific kind of ratio used for representation
- proportion
emphasises the relative size relationship rather than the precise numbers
文法句型
a scale of [ratio]
to scale
drawn to scale
用法筆記
The phrase 'to scale' is a fixed adverbial expression meaning the correct proportions are kept. 'Not to scale' is commonly printed on diagrams whose proportions are deliberately altered for clarity.
常見錯誤
3. how big, serious, or widespread something is, often referring to operations, pro
規模；程度
事物的大小或影響程度
how big, serious, or widespread something is, often referring to operations, problems, or natural events.
The company expanded its operations on a global scale.
這家公司將其業務擴展到全球規模。
on a ... scale
No one fully understood the scale of the disaster until the next morning.
直到隔天早上，才有人完全了解這場災難的嚴重程度。
the scale of [something]
Small-scale farmers often struggle to compete with large agricultural businesses.
小規模農民往往難以與大型農業企業競爭。
The university launched a large-scale study on the effects of air pollution.
這所大學啟動了一項大規模研究，探討空氣污染的影響。
Emre was shocked by the scale of the problem when he saw the data.
Emre 看到數據後，對問題的規模感到震驚。
文法句型
on a ... scale
the scale of [something]
large-scale / small-scale
用法筆記
Frequently preceded by an adjective in the pattern 'on a + adjective + scale' (e.g., 'on a massive scale', 'on a smaller scale'). The compounds 'large-scale' and 'small-scale' are commonly used as adjectives before nouns.
常見錯誤
4. a piece of equipment used to find out how heavy a person or an object is, such a
體重計；秤
用來測量重量的器具
a piece of equipment used to find out how heavy a person or an object is, such as a bathroom scale or kitchen scale.
Lisa stepped onto the bathroom scale to check her weight.
Lisa 站上浴室體重計測量體重。
bathroom scale
The butcher placed the meat on the scale and told the customer the price.
肉販把肉放在秤上，告訴顧客價錢。
Digital scales are far more accurate than the old spring-loaded ones.
電子秤比舊式的彈簧秤更精準。
Yasmin weighed the flour on a kitchen scale before baking the cake.
Yasmin 烤蛋糕前先用廚房秤量了麵粉的重量。
The luggage scale showed that his suitcase was two kilograms over the limit.
行李秤顯示他的行李箱超重兩公斤。
- weighing machine
more formal and often larger, used in industrial or commercial settings
- balance
specifically refers to a traditional or precision weighing device with two pans
文法句型
bathroom scale(s)
kitchen scale(s)
step on the scale(s)
weigh on a scale
用法筆記
In British and American English, the singular 'scale' and plural 'scales' are both used to refer to one device, though 'scales' is more common in British English ('bathroom scales'). Digital weighing devices are more often called 'scales' than 'scale'.
常見錯誤
5. a traditional weighing tool with two shallow dishes suspended from a central bea
天平
兩邊托盤懸掛衡量重量的傳統器具
a traditional weighing tool with two shallow dishes suspended from a central beam; you place a weight of a known amount in one dish and the item you want to weigh in the other so the beam stays level when both sides match.
The pharmacist used an old balance scale to measure the herbs.
藥劑師用舊式天平來測量草藥。
balance scale
Students placed weights on one side of the scale and a sample on the other.
在自然課上，學生們在天平的一端放砝碼，另一端放樣本。
one side ... the other
The symbol of justice shows a woman holding a balance scale in her hands.
正義的象徵是一位手持天平的女性。
Rodrigo put a fifty-gram weight on the left pan to balance the chemicals.
Rodrigo 在天平的左盤放了一個五十克的砝碼來平衡化學藥品。
Traditional balance scales can measure very small amounts with great accuracy.
傳統天平能夠非常精準地測量極小的重量。
- balance
emphasises the two-pan mechanism; often used in scientific contexts
- beam scale
specifies the horizontal-beam design of the device
文法句型
balance scale
a pair of scales
用法筆記
The phrase 'a pair of scales' is an older or more formal expression referring to a balance scale. In modern everyday use, digital scales have largely replaced traditional balance scales outside of laboratories and classrooms.
常見錯誤
6. a fixed sequence of tones rising or falling in pitch, typically containing eight
音階
音符由低到高或由高到低的排列序列
a fixed sequence of tones rising or falling in pitch, typically containing eight steps from one starting note to the same note a full octave above or below it.
The piano teacher asked Xiu to practice the C major scale.
鋼琴老師要 Xiu 練習 C 大調音階。
C major scale
Singers warm up their voices by singing scales before a performance.
歌手在表演前透過唱音階來開嗓。
Indra learned to play a blues scale on the guitar after just three lessons.
Indra 只上了三堂課就學會在吉他上彈奏藍調音階。
The violinist played a fast ascending scale that thrilled the audience.
小提琴手演奏了一段快速上行的音階，令觀眾讚嘆不已。
Sakura practised the D major scale on her violin until every note sounded clear.
Sakura 在小提琴上練習 D 大調音階，直到每個音符都聽起來清晰為止。
- octave scale
emphasises the eight-note range of a standard major or minor scale
文法句型
play a scale
major scale
minor scale
scale of [key]
用法筆記
Scales are named by their starting note and type: 'C major', 'G minor', 'blues scale', 'chromatic scale', etc. Two common patterns are the 'ascending scale' (going up in pitch) and 'descending scale' (going down).
常見錯誤
7. a small, hard, flat plate that is part of the outer body covering of creatures s
鱗片
魚類、爬蟲類身上的硬質小薄片
a small, hard, flat plate that is part of the outer body covering of creatures such as fish, snakes, and lizards, helping protect them.
The fish's scales shone silver in the morning sunlight.
那條魚的鱗片在晨光中閃爍著銀色光芒。
collocation: scales shine / glitter
Asher gently removed the scales from the fresh salmon before cooking it.
Asher 在煮新鮮鮭魚之前，輕輕地把魚鱗刮掉。
action: remove scales from [fish]
When Defne picked up the snake, its scales felt smooth and dry.
Defne 把蛇撿起來時，牠的鱗片摸起來又光滑又乾燥。
The old mirror carp in the garden pond had lost several scales after the fight with the heron.
花園池塘裡那條老鏡鯉，被蒼鷺攻擊後掉了好幾片鱗。
Under the microscope, each scale on the butterfly's wing looked like a tiny roof tile.
在顯微鏡下，蝴蝶翅膀上的每一片鱗看起來都像小小的屋瓦。
文法句型
scale + of + noun
plural: scales
用法筆記
Usually used in the plural form (scales) because fish and reptiles are covered by many of these plates.
常見錯誤
8. a chalky mineral crust that collects inside water-heating equipment such as pipe
水垢
水管、熱水壺內形成的白色礦物質沉積層
a chalky mineral crust that collects inside water-heating equipment such as pipes, kettles, and boilers, often white or grey in colour.
A thick layer of scale had built up inside the old electric kettle.
舊電熱水壺內部積了一層厚厚的水垢。
collocation: layer of scale / scale builds up
Lien used white vinegar to remove the scale from her coffee machine.
Lien 用白醋去除咖啡機內的水垢。
collocation: remove scale with [solution]
The plumber said the scale blocking the pipes was mostly calcium from the hard local water.
水電師傅說，堵塞水管的水垢主要是當地硬水中的鈣質。
Hana noticed white flakes of scale floating in her boiled drinking water.
Hana 發現煮過的飲用水中有白色水垢碎屑漂浮。
Ignacio bought a descaling solution to clean the shower head of mineral scale.
Ignacio 買了除垢劑來清理蓮蓬頭上的礦物質水垢。
- limescale
the everyday term people use at home; more specific to calcium deposits from water
- mineral deposit
broader term that includes scale and other types of build-up
文法句型
scale + forms/builds up
remove + scale
用法筆記
This sense is uncountable — you cannot say 'a scale' when referring to the mineral deposit. 'Scale' can also refer to a similar metal-oxide layer that forms when iron is heated (mill scale).
常見錯誤
9. a hardened deposit of food residue and minerals that collects on the surface of
牙結石
牙齒上因清潔不足形成的硬化物質，即牙垢
a hardened deposit of food residue and minerals that collects on the surface of teeth when brushing and flossing are neglected; also known as tartar.
Ritu's dentist warned that soft plaque would harden into scale if she did not floss more often.
Ritu 的牙醫警告，若她不更常使用牙線，軟牙菌斑會硬化成牙結石。
process: soft plaque → scale (tartar)
The dental hygienist used a metal scraper to remove the scale from Élise's lower front teeth.
牙科保健師用金屬刮刀清除 Élise 下排門牙上的牙結石。
collocation: remove scale from [body part]
Aaron noticed a yellow-brown layer of scale forming behind his lower front teeth.
Aaron 注意到下排門牙內側形成了一層黃褐色的牙結石。
Brushing twice a day and flossing prevent the build-up of hard scale on tooth surfaces.
每天刷牙兩次並使用牙線，可以防止牙齒表面形成硬牙結石。
Femi's dentist recommended a professional deep cleaning to remove the scale below the gum line.
Femi 的牙醫建議做一次專業深層洗牙，清除牙齦線下方的牙結石。
文法句型
scale + forms/builds up on + teeth
用法筆記
In everyday conversation, people usually say 'plaque' for the early soft layer and 'tartar' or 'scale' for the hardened deposit. Dentists prefer 'calculus' for the hardened form.