🇬🇧🇨🇳 scale - 比例尺 : English Lesson

Meaning of "scale" ("比例尺"), detailed definition, and a short video lesson below.

"Scale" is how a map, drawing, or model shows the size of real things, but smaller or sometimes bigger. For example, if a map says the scale is 1 centimeter = 1 kilometer, it means every tiny 1 centimeter on the paper stands for a big 1 kilometer in real life. Scale helps us understand how far things are or how large they really are, even when we are only looking at a small picture or a model of them.

Watch and listen to this English flashcard to understand the word in more detail, with an easy example sentence.

The scale on Dad’s vacation map was wrong, so instead of the beach we discovered four extra hours of family singing in the car.

According to the map’s scale, the distance to Grandma’s house is three centimeters, but my feet insisted it felt like three million.

The map’s scale told us the park was very close, but our snack bag disappeared at a much faster scale.

On the map’s scale, my school is only two fingers away, but in real life my legs said, “That was a very long two fingers.”

On most maps, the scale is written as a ratio like 1:100,000, which means 1 unit on the map equals 100,000 of the same units in real life.

Tom found a small wooden house and a big photo of the real house. He put the model beside the photo and read the scale on the plan. The scale on the model made the roof tiny like a toy. The map's scale showed where the real house stood. He tapped the small scale. Tom smiled at the scale match.

This word is at the B2 level, which means it’s used in more complex conversations and texts. It helps you discuss abstract ideas, express opinions clearly, and engage in discussions on a variety of topics, both personal and professional.

Expanding your English vocabulary is one of the best ways to improve your pronunciation, spelling, and confidence in English. Watch the video above to memorize the word, understand its meaning, and see example sentences in action. Discover related words to grow your vocabulary naturally. Add words to your playlist for stress-free, effective learning—anytime, anywhere! Watch, learn, repeat.