规模

The Chinese word 规模 (guīmó) is composed of two characters: 规 (guī) and 模 (mó). 规 originally meant "compasses" or "a tool for drawing circles", and later extended to mean "rule", "standard", or "regulation". 模 originally meant "mold" or "pattern", and later extended to mean "model", "example", or "scale". When combined, 规模 literally means "compasses and mold", and figuratively refers to "scale", "size", or "magnitude". It can also be used to refer to a "system", "framework", or "structure". For example, we can say 规模宏大 (guīmó hóngdà) to describe something as "large-scale" or "grand in scale".