This paper describes the usage of Japanese words like ookii, chiisai, tsuyoi, yowai, ooi, sukunai, takai, hikui, etc., which express degree or quantity of scientific concepts in school science textbooks for primary, middle and high school students. The following observations have been found on the use of these words in various textbooks. (1) Ookii (big, large, etc.), chiisai(small, little, etc.) or ookisa(size, magnitude, dimensions etc.) have been used most frequently at all levels of textbooks for this purpose. (2) The frequency of ookii-chiisai-ookisa in use accompanied with abstract scientific concepts not having spatial meaning increases considerably in textbooks for the higher graders. (3) Degree or quantity of scientific concepts is mostly expressed by using both ookii-chiisai-ookisa, and other kinds of specific and concrete words with almost the same meaning Judging from the actual uses in textbooks, it can be said that the usage of these words is not necessarily fixed, and that these words are not used properly in textbooks. This will mean that authors of textbooks tend to use their favorite words without rules. The author has proposed to standardize the usage of these words in science textbooks in connection with scientific concepts and terms.
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