A reference signal mapping method, comprising steps of: determining a position of a Resource Element, RE, to which a Channel State Information-Reference Signal, CSI-RS, has been mapped in accordance with an N-port reference signal pattern, N being equal to 12 or 16, the position of the RE to which the CSI-RS has been mapped in the N-port reference signal pattern being determined in accordance with a position of the RE to which the CSI-RS has been mapped in one or more of a 2-port reference signal pattern, a 4-port reference signal pattern and an 8-port reference signal pattern; and performing a resource mapping operation on the CSI-RS in accordance with the determined position of the RE, characterized in that when N is equal to 12, positions of four REs of twelve REs to which a group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in a 12-port reference signal pattern are identical to positions of four of eight REs to which a first group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern, and remaining eight REs of the twelve REs are distributed in a distribution mode where four of the remaining eight REs are located at positions identical to four of the eight REs to which a second group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern, a first two of remaining four REs of the remaining eight REs are located at positions identical to two of the eight REs to which a third group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern, and a second two of the remaining four REs of the remaining eight REs are REs to which no reference signal has been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern. determining a position of a Resource Element, RE, to which a Channel State Information-Reference Signal, CSI-RS, has been mapped in accordance with an N-port reference signal pattern, N being equal to 12 or 16, the position of the RE to which the CSI-RS has been mapped in the N-port reference signal pattern being determined in accordance with a position of the RE to which the CSI-RS has been mapped in one or more of a 2-port reference signal pattern, a 4-port reference signal pattern and an 8-port reference signal pattern; and performing a resource mapping operation on the CSI-RS in accordance with the determined position of the RE, characterized in that when N is equal to 12, positions of four REs of twelve REs to which a group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in a 12-port reference signal pattern are identical to positions of four of eight REs to which a first group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern, and remaining eight REs of the twelve REs are distributed in a distribution mode where four of the remaining eight REs are located at positions identical to four of the eight REs to which a second group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern, a first two of remaining four REs of the remaining eight REs are located at positions identical to two of the eight REs to which a third group of CSI-RSs have been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern, and a second two of the remaining four REs of the remaining eight REs are REs to which no reference signal has been mapped in the 8-port reference signal pattern. <EOS>