Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'scale'

English Word: scale

Key Russian Translations:

• чешуя [ˈtʃeʂʊjə] - [Informal, used in biological contexts]
• весы [ˈvʲesɨ] - [Formal, plural form commonly used]
• масштаб [mɐˈʂtab] - [Neutral, often in scientific or business contexts]
• гамма [ˈɡamə] - [Formal, specific to music or scales in a musical sense]

Frequency: Medium (varies by meaning; e.g., 'чешуя' is less common in everyday speech, while 'масштаб' is frequently used in professional contexts)

Difficulty: B1 for basic translations like 'чешуя' and 'весы'; B2 for 'масштаб' due to its abstract applications (based on CEFR)

Pronunciation (Russian):

чешуя: [ˈtʃeʂʊjə]

весы: [ˈvʲesɨ]

масштаб: [mɐˈʂtab]

гамма: [ˈɡamə]

Note on чешуя: The 'ш' sound is similar to the English 'sh' in 'she', but pay attention to the soft 'у' which can be tricky for beginners.

Note on весы: This is a plural noun; the stress on the first syllable makes it distinct from similar words.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning 1: Fish scale (as in the protective covering on fish)

Translation(s) & Context:

• чешуя - Used in everyday or scientific discussions about animals and biology.

Usage Examples:

• Рыба имеет чешую, которая защищает её от внешних повреждений.

  The fish has scales that protect it from external damage.

• В океане мы видели рыбу с блестящей чешуёй.

  In the ocean, we saw a fish with shiny scales.

• Учёные изучают чешую для понимания эволюции видов.

  Scientists study scales to understand the evolution of species.

• Эта чешуя отпадает, когда рыба стареет.

  This scale falls off when the fish ages.

Meaning 2: Weighing scale (as in a device for measuring weight)

Translation(s) & Context:

• весы - Commonly used in formal or practical contexts like markets or labs.

Usage Examples:

• Поставьте фрукты на весы, чтобы измерить их вес.

  Put the fruits on the scales to measure their weight.

• В аптеке весы используются для точного дозирования лекарств.

  In the pharmacy, scales are used for precise dosing of medications.

• Эти старые весы всё ещё работают в нашем доме.

  These old scales still work in our house.

• Современные весы оснащены цифровыми дисплеями.

  Modern scales are equipped with digital displays.

Meaning 3: Scale as in size or extent (e.g., magnitude)

Translation(s) & Context:

• масштаб - Applied in abstract, professional, or geographical contexts.

Usage Examples:

• Проект имеет огромный масштаб, охватывая несколько стран.

  The project has a huge scale, covering several countries.

• Масштаб изменений в климате вызывает глобальные опасения.

  The scale of changes in climate raises global concerns.

• В карте показан масштаб в соотношении 1:100000.

  The map shows a scale of 1:100,000.

• Бизнес расширяется до международного масштаба.

  The business is expanding to an international scale.

Meaning 4: Musical scale (as in a series of notes)

Translation(s) & Context:

• гамма - Used specifically in music theory and performance.

Usage Examples:

• Музыкант практиковал гамму до мажор.

  The musician practiced the C major scale.

• Гамма является основой для импровизации в джазе.

  The scale is the foundation for improvisation in jazz.

• Ученики изучают гамму на уроках музыки.

  Students learn scales in music lessons.

• Эта гамма включает семь нот.

  This scale includes seven notes.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

For 'чешуя' (feminine noun): It follows the standard first declension pattern for feminine nouns ending in -я.

Case	Singular	Plural
Nominative	чешуя	чешуи
Genitive	чешуи	чешуй
Dative	чешуе	чешуям
Accusative	чешую	чешуи
Instrumental	чешуёй	чешуями
Prepositional	чешуе	чешуях

For 'весы' (plural noun only): It does not have a singular form and remains invariant in most cases, e.g., весы (nominative/plural).

For 'масштаб' (masculine noun): Follows second declension; irregular in some cases due to the consonant cluster.

Case	Singular
Nominative	масштаб
Genitive	масштаба

For 'гамма' (feminine noun): Similar to 'чешуя', follows first declension.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • чешуйка (a diminutive form of чешуя, implying something smaller)
  • вес (for весы, meaning weight in a broader sense)
  • размер (for масштаб, emphasizing size over scale)
  • лестница тонов (for гамма, a more descriptive synonym in music)
• Antonyms:
  • миниатюра (for масштаб, implying something small-scale)
  • дисгармония (for гамма, in musical contexts)

Related Phrases:

• чешуя рыбы - The scales of a fish; used in biological descriptions.
• на точных весах - On precise scales; common in scientific or commercial contexts.
• в глобальном масштабе - On a global scale; for discussing large-scale issues.
• играть гамму - To play a scale; a phrase in music education.

Usage Notes:

The English word 'scale' has multiple translations in Russian depending on context, so choose based on the specific meaning: use 'чешуя' for biological items, 'весы' for measurement devices, 'масштаб' for size or extent, and 'гамма' for music. Be mindful of gender and case in sentences; for example, 'масштаб' is masculine and requires appropriate adjectives. In formal writing, prefer 'масштаб' over informal alternatives.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using 'чешуя' in a musical context instead of 'гамма'. Correct: 'Играй гамму' (Play the scale), not 'Играй чешую'. Explanation: These are unrelated meanings, and mixing them can confuse listeners.

• Error: Treating 'весы' as singular. Correct: Always use in plural form, e.g., 'весы показывают 5 кг' (the scales show 5 kg). Explanation: 'Весы' is inherently plural in Russian, unlike English 'scale'.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, 'весы' is also the name of a zodiac sign (Libra), which adds a layer of astrological connotation in everyday conversations, unlike its purely functional meaning in English.

Related Concepts:

• кожа (skin)
• измерение (measurement)
• тональность (tonality, in music)
• пропорции (proportions)