At the A1 level, you should know that 'écailler' is a verb used in the kitchen. It means to take the scales off a fish. You might see it in a simple recipe or hear it at a market. Just remember: écailler = fish + cleaning scales. Example: 'Je mange du poisson. Je dois écailler le poisson.' It is a regular '-er' verb, so it conjugates like 'manger' or 'parler'. You don't need to worry about the complex 'paint flaking' meaning yet; focus on the fish! If you go to a French market, knowing this word helps you talk to the fishmonger.
At the A2 level, you can use 'écailler' in more complete sentences. You should understand that it is a specific action. You can say 'Il faut écailler le poisson avant de le faire cuire' (You must scale the fish before cooking it). You might also start to notice the word 'écaillé' as an adjective. If you see an old house with 'la peinture écaillée,' it means the paint is coming off. You are beginning to see how one word can be used for both food and for describing how things look when they are old and damaged.
At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using the pronominal form 's'écailler' to describe surfaces. 'Le vernis à ongles de Marie s'écaille' (Marie's nail polish is chipping). You understand the nuance between 'écailler' (active) and 's'écailler' (passive state). You can also follow more complex cooking instructions. You know that 'un écailler' is also a person who works with seafood. You can use the word in different tenses, like the 'passé composé': 'J'ai écaillé le bar hier soir.' Your vocabulary is becoming more precise, distinguishing 'écailler' from 'éplucher'.
At the B2 level, you use 'écailler' and 's'écailler' with ease in various registers. You might use 'écaillé' in a descriptive essay to create atmosphere: 'La façade écaillée de l'hôtel témoignait de sa gloire passée.' You understand technical discussions about material durability (paint, enamel). You also know that in the world of oysters, an 'écailler' is a master of opening shellfish. You can discuss the culinary traditions of France and the importance of preparing fresh fish correctly. You might even use it metaphorically to describe something losing its outer layer.
At the C1 level, you appreciate the subtle textures the word 'écailler' brings to language. You might encounter it in classic literature (like Balzac or Zola) to describe gritty, realistic settings. You understand the etymological link between 'écaille' and other words like 'écale' (shell of a nut). You can use the term in professional contexts, such as discussing the restoration of historical monuments where 'le décapage de la peinture écaillée' is a technical step. You are aware of the sensory details the word evokes—the sound, the mess, and the visual of flaking layers.
At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'écailler'. You can use it in highly abstract or metaphorical ways, perhaps describing a political regime whose 'vernis démocratique s'écaille' (democratic veneer is flaking off) to reveal authoritarianism. You understand every nuance, from the specific tools used by a 'maître écailler' to the chemical reasons why certain polymers 's'écaillent'. You can switch between the literal culinary use and the figurative descriptive use flawlessly, incorporating the word into sophisticated discourse about art, history, or gastronomy.

écailler 30秒了解

  • Écailler means to scale a fish, a vital step in French culinary preparation to ensure the skin is edible and smooth.
  • The word is also used for paint, varnish, or enamel that is flaking or chipping off in small, thin pieces.
  • It is a regular -er verb, making it easy to conjugate, but requires a pronominal form (s'écailler) when referring to paint.
  • In French culture, an 'écailler' is a specialized professional who prepares shellfish and fresh fish at markets or restaurants.

The French verb écailler is primarily a culinary and maintenance term. At its core, it refers to the act of removing scales (écailles) from a fish. If you are standing in a bustling French market, particularly in coastal regions like Brittany or the Côte d'Azur, you will frequently hear the rhythmic scraping sound of a knife against a sea bass or a red mullet. This is the process of écailler le poisson. It is a messy but essential step in fish preparation, as scales are inedible and tough. Beyond the kitchen, the word takes on a physical description of degradation. When paint on a wall or the enamel on a bathtub begins to crack and fall off in small, scale-like pieces, the French use the pronominal form s'écailler. This dual nature—active removal in the kitchen and passive decay in home maintenance—makes it a versatile verb for daily life. In a metaphorical sense, though less common, it can imply stripping away layers to reveal what is beneath. When you use this word, you are describing a physical transformation of a surface, whether you are preparing a gourmet meal or noticing that your old wooden shutters need a fresh coat of paint.

Literal Culinary Use
To remove the scales of a fish using a tool called an 'écailleur'. This is done from the tail toward the head.
Material Decay
To describe paint, varnish, or enamel that is flaking or chipping off due to age or moisture.
Technical Application
In oyster preparation, it can sometimes refer to the opening and cleaning process, though 'ouvrir' is more common.

Le poissonnier doit écailler le bar avant de le vider.

When you are at a restaurant and the menu mentions a whole fish, it is assumed the chef has already performed the task of écailler. If you were to find a scale in your dish, it would be considered a significant culinary error. For learners, it is important to distinguish this from 'peler' (to peel fruit) or 'éplucher' (to peel vegetables). You scale a fish because it has 'écailles' (scales). The action is vigorous and specific. In the context of home renovation, if you see 'la peinture s'écaille,' it means the paint is flaking. This is a common sight in older French apartments where humidity has affected the plaster. Understanding this word helps you navigate both the 'poissonnerie' and the 'bricolage' (DIY) store with confidence.

Regarde, la vieille porte commence à s'écailler avec le soleil.

Using écailler correctly depends on whether you are the active agent (the person scaling something) or if the object is doing the action to itself (flaking). As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object: écailler quelque chose. Most commonly, this object is a fish. For example, 'Je vais écailler la truite' (I am going to scale the trout). Note that the action usually precedes 'vider' (to gut) and 'laver' (to wash). In the kitchen, the imperative is common: 'Écaille ce poisson immédiatement !' (Scale this fish immediately!).

Transitive Use (Active)
Subject + écailler + Object (Fish/Surface). Example: 'L'artisan écaille la vieille peinture.'
Pronominal Use (Passive/State)
Subject + s'écailler. Used for paint, varnish, or skin. Example: 'Le vernis à ongles s'écaille déjà.'

Il est difficile d'écailler un poisson sans mettre des écailles partout dans la cuisine.

In technical or artistic contexts, you might hear about 'écailler' used for removing small chips of stone or glass to create a specific texture. However, for 99% of learners, focusing on the fish and the paint contexts is sufficient. When describing a person's skin that is very dry and peeling in small flakes, you might say 'sa peau s'écaille.' This is more descriptive and slightly more medical/clinical than 'peler' (which is used for sunburns). If you are writing a recipe, use the infinitive: 'Commencer par écailler les daurades.' If you are complaining about the quality of a product, you might say: 'Cette peinture est de mauvaise qualité, elle a commencé à s'écailler après seulement deux mois.'

Voulez-vous que je vous aide à écailler le saumon ?

You will encounter écailler in very specific environments. The most common is the poissonnerie (fish shop). When buying fresh fish at a French market, the poissonnier will often ask: 'Voulez-vous que je l'écaille ?' (Do you want me to scale it?). This is a standard service provided at no extra cost. In professional kitchens, 'écailler' is one of the first tasks assigned to apprentices. It's a fundamental skill in French gastronomy. You will also see this word on the labels of kitchen tools; an 'écailleur' is a specific serrated tool designed for this purpose.

At the Market
'Pouvez-vous écailler et vider ces deux dorades, s'il vous plaît ?'
Home Renovation
'Il faut gratter la peinture qui s'écaille avant de repeindre le mur.'

Le chef a crié parce que l'apprenti a oublié d'écailler le loup de mer.

In the beauty industry, particularly regarding nail care, 's'écailler' is the standard term for chipped nail polish. You might hear a woman say, 'Mon vernis s'écaille, je dois le refaire' (My nail polish is chipping, I need to redo it). In literature or descriptive writing, 'écaillé' (the past participle used as an adjective) is often used to evoke a sense of neglect or antiquity. A 'façade écaillée' suggests a building that has seen better days, perhaps an old manor in the countryside or a forgotten shop in a small village. It adds a textural quality to the description that 'vieux' (old) or 'sale' (dirty) cannot provide. It implies a history of exposure to the elements.

Regarde cette vieille baignoire, l'émail commence à s'écailler par endroits.

The most frequent mistake for English speakers is using 'peler' or 'éplucher' when they mean 'écailler.' In English, we might say 'peel' for many things, but French is highly specific about the surface being removed. You épluches a potato, you pèles an orange, but you écailles a fish. Using the wrong verb in a professional kitchen or at a market will immediately mark you as a beginner. Another mistake is forgetting the pronominal 'se' when talking about paint. You don't say 'la peinture écaille,' you say 'la peinture s'écaille.' The paint isn't scaling something else; it is undergoing the process of flaking off itself.

écailler vs. éplucher
Écailler is for scales (fish). Éplucher is for skin/peel (vegetables like carrots or potatoes).
écailler vs. peler
Peler is for fruit (apples, oranges) or skin that has a sunburn. Écailler is strictly for scale-like structures.

Faux-pas : 'Je vais éplucher le poisson.' Correct : 'Je vais écailler le poisson.'

Another subtle mistake involves the tool. While you might use a 'couteau' (knife) to scale a fish, the specific tool is an 'écailleur.' Learners often try to invent words like 'scalateur' which do not exist in French. Furthermore, confuse not 'écailler' with 'écarquiller' (to open one's eyes wide). They sound somewhat similar but have vastly different meanings. Finally, in the context of oysters, while 'écailler' is used for the person who opens them (an 'écailler' is also a profession), the verb used for the action is usually 'ouvrir' (to open). So, an 'écailler' (the person) 'ouvre les huîtres' (opens the oysters).

If you find écailler difficult to remember or want to expand your vocabulary, there are several related terms depending on the context. In the kitchen, if you are just generally cleaning a fish, you might use 'nettoyer' (to clean) or 'préparer' (to prepare), though these are less precise. If you are specifically talking about the skin, 'enlever la peau' (remove the skin) is a common phrase. For the 'flaking' context, 's'effriter' is a great alternative when talking about stone or old bread, while 'se détacher' (to come off) is a more general term.

écailler vs. gratter
'Gratter' means 'to scrape'. You use a scraper to 'écailler'. 'Gratter' is the motion, 'écailler' is the purpose.
écailler vs. peler
Peler is for thin skins (fruit). Écailler is for hard, plate-like scales (fish).
écailler vs. s'effriter
'S'effriter' is for crumbling (stone, cookies). 'S'écailler' is for flaking in flat pieces (paint, scales).

Au lieu d'écailler le poisson, il a préféré lever les filets directement.

There is also the term 'décailler,' which is sometimes used as a synonym for 'écailler' in certain dialects or older texts, but 'écailler' remains the standard. If you are talking about rust on metal, you might say 'la rouille fait sauter la peinture,' but 's'écailler' is still perfectly valid if the paint is coming off in flakes. In the context of a person who prepares and sells shellfish (especially oysters), the noun is 'écailler'. So you might go to an 'écailler' to buy your 'plateau de fruits de mer'. This is a prestigious and skilled profession in France, often seen at high-end brasseries in Paris.

How Formal Is It?

趣味小知识

The word is a 'doublet' of 'écale' (shell of a nut). While 'écale' stayed with nuts, 'écaille' moved to fish and later to paint flakes.

发音指南

UK /e.ka.je/
US /e.ka.je/
The stress is even, but slightly falls on the final 'ye' syllable in natural speech.
押韵词
travailler manger panier oreiller escalier conseiller habiller ensoleiller
常见错误
  • Pronouncing the final 'r' like in English 'air'.
  • Confusing the 'ai' sound with 'oi' (saying e-quoi-yer).
  • Making the 'll' sound like an 'L' instead of a 'Y'.
  • Stress on the first syllable.
  • Mumbling the 'e' as a 'schwa' sound.

难度评级

阅读 2/5

Easy to recognize if you know 'écaille'.

写作 3/5

The double 'l' and 'er' ending are standard but need care.

口语 3/5

The 'll' (y) sound can be tricky for beginners.

听力 2/5

Clear pronunciation in most contexts.

接下来学什么

前置知识

poisson écaille peinture mur enlever

接下来学习

vider (to gut) lever les filets (to fillet) poncer (to sand) repeindre (to repaint)

高级

squameux exfolier effriter écailleur

需要掌握的语法

Regular -er verb conjugation

Je m'écaille, tu t'écailles, il s'écaille...

Pronominal verbs for natural processes

La peinture s'écaille (it flakes itself).

Infinitive after prepositions

L'outil pour écailler.

Agreement of the past participle as an adjective

Des peintures écaillées.

Causative with 'faire'

Faire écailler le poisson.

按水平分级的例句

1

Je vais écailler le poisson.

I am going to scale the fish.

Future proche: aller + infinitive.

2

Tu écailles le poisson ?

Are you scaling the fish?

Present tense, second person singular.

3

Le poissonnier écaille le bar.

The fishmonger scales the sea bass.

Subject-verb-object structure.

4

Il n'aime pas écailler le poisson.

He doesn't like scaling fish.

Negation with 'ne...pas'.

5

Nous écaillons le poisson ensemble.

We are scaling the fish together.

First person plural present tense.

6

C'est facile d'écailler ce poisson.

It is easy to scale this fish.

C'est + adjective + de + infinitive.

7

Où est l'outil pour écailler ?

Where is the tool for scaling?

Interrogative sentence.

8

Maman écaille le dîner.

Mom is scaling the dinner.

Simple present tense.

1

Il faut écailler le poisson avant de le cuire.

You must scale the fish before cooking it.

Impersonal 'il faut' + infinitive.

2

La peinture du mur commence à s'écailler.

The paint on the wall is starting to flake.

Pronominal verb 's'écailler'.

3

Est-ce que vous pouvez écailler ce poisson pour moi ?

Can you scale this fish for me?

Polite request with 'pouvoir'.

4

J'ai écaillé trois poissons ce matin.

I scaled three fish this morning.

Passé composé with 'avoir'.

5

Attention, ne vous coupez pas en écaillant le poisson.

Watch out, don't cut yourself while scaling the fish.

Gérondif: en + participe présent.

6

Pourquoi la peinture s'écaille-t-elle déjà ?

Why is the paint flaking already?

Inversion in a question.

7

Elle utilise un couteau spécial pour écailler.

She uses a special knife to scale.

Preposition 'pour' + infinitive.

8

Le poissonnier a fini d'écailler le saumon.

The fishmonger finished scaling the salmon.

Finir de + infinitive.

1

Si tu n'écailles pas bien le poisson, ce sera désagréable à manger.

If you don't scale the fish well, it will be unpleasant to eat.

Hypothetical 'si' clause (present + future).

2

Mon vernis à ongles s'écaille toujours après deux jours.

My nail polish always chips after two days.

Adverbial placement.

3

L'artisan doit écailler toute l'ancienne peinture avant de repeindre.

The craftsman must scrape off all the old paint before repainting.

Modal verb 'devoir'.

4

En écaillant le poisson, il a mis des écailles partout.

While scaling the fish, he got scales everywhere.

Gérondif expressing simultaneity.

5

Cette vieille baignoire s'écaille, il faut la changer.

This old bathtub is peeling, it needs to be replaced.

Present tense description.

6

Il a appris à écailler les poissons lors de son stage en Bretagne.

He learned to scale fish during his internship in Brittany.

Apprendre à + infinitive.

7

Le vernis du meuble s'est écaillé à cause de l'humidité.

The furniture's varnish flaked off because of the humidity.

Passé composé of a pronominal verb.

8

Voulez-vous que l'écailler prépare vos huîtres ?

Do you want the oyster preparer to prepare your oysters?

Subjunctive mood after 'vouloir que'.

1

La façade écaillée du vieux manoir lui donnait un air mystérieux.

The flaked facade of the old manor gave it a mysterious look.

Past participle used as an adjective.

2

Il est primordial d'écailler soigneusement le poisson pour ne pas gâcher la texture.

It is essential to scale the fish carefully so as not to ruin the texture.

Impersonal construction with 'de'.

3

Le soleil intense a fait s'écailler la peinture de la clôture.

The intense sun caused the fence's paint to flake.

Causative construction 'faire' + infinitive.

4

Bien qu'il sache écailler le poisson, il préfère l'acheter déjà préparé.

Even though he knows how to scale fish, he prefers to buy it already prepared.

Concessive clause with 'bien que' + subjunctive.

5

L'écailler du restaurant nous a servi un plateau magnifique.

The restaurant's seafood preparer served us a magnificent platter.

Noun usage of 'écailler'.

6

Après des années de négligence, l'émail de l'évier s'écaillait par plaques.

After years of neglect, the sink's enamel was flaking off in patches.

Imperfect tense for description.

7

On peut écailler le poisson avec le dos d'un couteau si on n'a pas d'outil spécial.

One can scale the fish with the back of a knife if one doesn't have a special tool.

Passive 'on' and conditional 'si' clause.

8

La peinture s'écaille parce que le support n'a pas été bien préparé.

The paint is flaking because the surface wasn't well prepared.

Passive voice in the subordinate clause.

1

L'humidité persistante a fini par faire s'écailler les fresques de l'église.

The persistent humidity eventually caused the church frescoes to flake off.

Complex verbal chain: 'finir par faire s'écailler'.

2

L'écailler maniait son couteau avec une dextérité impressionnante.

The seafood preparer handled his knife with impressive dexterity.

Imperfect tense for habitual or descriptive action.

3

On voyait sous la peinture qui s'écaillait les vestiges d'une ancienne enseigne.

Under the flaking paint, one could see the remains of an old sign.

Relative clause 'qui s'écaillait'.

4

Il convient d'écailler le poisson à contre-sens, de la queue vers la tête.

It is appropriate to scale the fish in the opposite direction, from tail to head.

Formal 'il convient de'.

5

Sa réputation de grand chef s'écaillait à mesure que les critiques négatives pleuvaient.

His reputation as a great chef was flaking away as negative reviews poured in.

Metaphorical usage.

6

Le processus d'écaillage doit être réalisé avec minutie pour préserver la peau.

The scaling process must be carried out with meticulousness to preserve the skin.

Noun form 'écaillage' and passive 'doit être réalisé'.

7

Rien n'est plus triste qu'une aire de jeux dont la peinture s'écaille.

Nothing is sadder than a playground whose paint is flaking.

Relative pronoun 'dont'.

8

Elle s'échinait à écailler les poissons sous un soleil de plomb.

She was laboring to scale the fish under a blazing sun.

Pronominal verb 's'échiner à'.

1

Le vernis de respectabilité de cet homme politique s'écaillait à chaque nouveau scandale.

This politician's veneer of respectability was flaking off with every new scandal.

Highly metaphorical/literary use.

2

L'œuvre, bien que protégée, présentait des zones où la couche picturale s'écaillait dangereusement.

The work, although protected, showed areas where the pictorial layer was flaking dangerously.

Technical art restoration vocabulary.

3

Dans ce quartier déshérité, les façades s'écaillent comme des peaux de serpents en mue.

In this underprivileged neighborhood, the facades flake like the skins of molting snakes.

Simile using 'comme'.

4

Il faudrait écailler ces préjugés qui nous empêchent de voir la réalité.

We should strip away these prejudices that prevent us from seeing reality.

Metaphorical imperative/conditional.

5

L'écailler, figure emblématique des halles, s'activait dès l'aube.

The seafood preparer, an emblematic figure of the markets, was busy from dawn.

Apposition 'figure emblématique'.

6

L'érosion marine finit inévitablement par écailler la roche la plus dure.

Marine erosion inevitably ends up scaling/chipping the hardest rock.

Geological context.

7

Le film montre la lente dégradation d'une famille dont le bonheur s'écaille peu à peu.

The film shows the slow degradation of a family whose happiness is flaking away bit by bit.

Abstract usage in film criticism.

8

Nul ne peut ignorer l'urgence quand le plafond de la salle de classe s'écaille sur les élèves.

No one can ignore the urgency when the classroom ceiling flakes onto the students.

Formal 'nul ne peut'.

常见搭配

écailler un poisson
peinture qui s'écaille
vernis qui s'écaille
écailler une huître
couteau à écailler
écailleur électrique
écailler la peinture
se faire écailler
écailler soigneusement
écailler à vif

常用短语

La peinture s'écaille.

— The paint is flaking off.

Le plafond est vieux, la peinture s'écaille.

Écailler le bar.

— To scale the sea bass.

N'oublie pas d'écailler le bar pour le dîner.

Un couteau pour écailler.

— A knife for scaling.

Il me faut un couteau pour écailler ces truites.

L'émail s'écaille.

— The enamel is chipping.

La vieille baignoire a l'émail qui s'écaille.

Faire écailler le poisson.

— To have the fish scaled (by someone else).

Je fais écailler le poisson par le poissonnier.

S'écailler par plaques.

— To flake off in large patches.

Le mur s'écaille par plaques entières.

Le vernis s'écaille.

— The nail polish is chipping.

Son vernis rouge s'écaille déjà.

Écailler une porte.

— To scrape the paint off a door.

On doit écailler la porte avant de la repeindre.

L'écailler du coin.

— The local seafood preparer.

On a commandé des huîtres chez l'écailler du coin.

Écailler à la main.

— To scale by hand.

Il préfère écailler à la main plutôt qu'à la machine.

容易混淆的词

écailler vs éplucher

Used for vegetables/fruits. You don't scale a potato.

écailler vs peler

Used for skin or fruit. You don't peel a fish's scales.

écailler vs écarquiller

Sounds similar but means to open eyes wide.

习语与表达

"S'écailler le vernis"

— Literally chipping nail polish, but can metaphorically mean losing one's perfect appearance.

Son vernis de perfection commence à s'écailler.

figurative
"Avoir une écaille dans l'œil"

— Not a standard idiom, but 'avoir une poutre dans l'œil' (beam in the eye) is the real idiom for hypocrisy. People sometimes play with 'écaille' in maritime contexts.

N/A

N/A
"Écailler la façade"

— To reveal the truth behind a fake appearance.

Le journaliste a écaillé la façade du politicien.

literary
"Peinture écaillée, maison négligée"

— A saying implying that flaking paint shows a lack of care.

Comme on dit, peinture écaillée, maison négligée.

proverbial
"Se faire écailler"

— In some very niche slang, it could mean getting 'skinned' or cheated, but this is extremely rare.

Il s'est fait écailler au jeu.

slang
"Écailler le passé"

— To dig into the past, removing layers of history.

L'historien cherche à écailler le passé de la ville.

poetic
"L'écailler des rêves"

— A poetic term for someone who strips away illusions.

La réalité est l'écailler des rêves.

poetic
"Vieux comme une peinture écaillée"

— Very old and neglected.

Ce vieux monsieur est comme une peinture écaillée.

informal
"Écailler le vernis social"

— To break through social etiquette to see the real person.

L'alcool a fini par écailler son vernis social.

formal
"Perdre ses écailles"

— To lose one's defenses or armor.

Le guerrier perd ses écailles face à l'amour.

poetic

容易混淆

écailler vs écaille

Noun vs Verb.

Écaille is the scale itself; écailler is the action of removing it.

L'écaille tombe quand on l'écaille.

écailler vs écailler

Verb vs Noun (Person).

Same spelling, but one is the action, the other is the person doing it.

L'écailler doit écailler.

écailler vs décailler

Synonym.

Rarely used, 'écailler' is much more common.

Il décaillait les poissons (Old fashioned).

écailler vs effriter

Similar meaning.

Effriter is for crumbling into dust; écailler is for flaking into plates.

La pierre s'effrite, la peinture s'écaille.

écailler vs écorcher

Skin context.

Écorcher means to skin or scratch deeply; écailler is just the surface scales.

Il s'est écorché le genou.

句型

A1

Je + écailler + le poisson.

Je écaille le poisson.

A2

Il faut + écailler + [noun].

Il faut écailler la truite.

B1

[Noun] + se + écailler.

La peinture s'écaille.

B1

[Noun] + écaillé(e).

Une porte écaillée.

B2

Commencer à + s'écailler.

Le vernis commence à s'écailler.

C1

Faire + s'écailler + [noun].

L'humidité fait s'écailler le mur.

C1

L'écailler + [verb phrase].

L'écailler prépare les huîtres.

C2

[Metaphorical subject] + s'écailler.

Son calme s'écaille.

词族

名词

écaille (scale)
écaillage (the act of scaling)
écailler (the person/tool)
écaillure (a chip or flake)

动词

écailler
s'écailler
décailler

形容词

écaillé (scaled/flaked)
écailleux (scaly)

相关

poisson
peinture
vernis
mer
coquillage

如何使用

frequency

Common in culinary and DIY contexts; rare in general abstract conversation.

常见错误
  • Je vais éplucher le poisson. Je vais écailler le poisson.

    Éplucher is for vegetables.

  • La peinture écaille. La peinture s'écaille.

    It must be reflexive in this context.

  • Un scalateur de poisson. Un écailleur.

    'Scalateur' is not a French word.

  • J'ai écaillé l'orange. J'ai pelé l'orange.

    Oranges have peels, not scales.

  • Le mur est écaillé. La peinture du mur est écaillée.

    Technically the paint flakes, not the wall itself (though commonly understood).

小贴士

Kitchen Mastery

Learn 'écailler', 'vider', and 'laver' as a sequence for fish preparation.

Reflexive Use

Always use 's'écailler' when the paint is falling off on its own.

Market Manners

Ask 'Pouvez-vous l'écailler ?' to save yourself a lot of mess at home.

The 'Y' Sound

Don't say 'L', say 'Y'. It's 'ay-kah-yay'.

Home Repair

If a surface 's'écaille', you must sand it before painting.

Nail Care

Use this word to complain about cheap nail polish!

Poetic Flair

Use 'écaillé' to describe a charming old building.

Right Tool

An 'écailleur' is safer than a sharp knife for beginners.

Direction

Always scale from tail to head to avoid the knife slipping.

Freshness

Scale fish just before cooking to keep the flesh moist.

记住它

记忆技巧

Imagine a chef in a kitchen using a 'Scale' (écaille) to 'Scale' (écailler) a fish. The 'E' at the start is like 'Exiting' the scales from the fish.

视觉联想

Picture a fish with bright silver scales flying off into the air as a knife scrapes them. Then picture a wall in an old French house with paint curling up like those same scales.

Word Web

poisson écaille peinture mur cuisine poissonnier vernis écailler

挑战

Go to a French market or a virtual tour of one. Look for the 'poissonnerie' and try to spot the 'écailleur' tool. Say 'Je voudrais écailler ce poisson' to yourself.

词源

Derived from the Old French 'escaille', which comes from the Frankish '*skala' (shell, husk).

原始含义: The original meaning was related to the protective outer layer of an organism or fruit.

Indo-European > Germanic (Frankish) > Romance (French).

文化背景

No specific sensitivities, but be aware that 'écailler' can be a messy and slightly violent-looking process for those sensitive to animal preparation.

In English, 'to scale' is the direct equivalent, but we don't have a specific noun for the professional like 'écailler'.

The paintings of Chardin often depict kitchen scenes where fish are being prepared. Zola's 'Le Ventre de Paris' describes the markets in vivid detail. Modern French cooking shows like 'Top Chef France' frequently use the term.

在生活中练习

真实语境

At the fish market

  • Pouvez-vous l'écailler ?
  • C'est déjà écaillé ?
  • Voulez-vous que je l'écaille ?
  • Un poisson non écaillé

In the kitchen

  • Écaille-le bien.
  • Attention aux écailles.
  • Où est l'écailleur ?
  • Écailler sous l'eau

Home renovation

  • La peinture s'écaille.
  • Il faut tout écailler.
  • Gratter le vernis.
  • Mur qui s'écaille

Beauty salon

  • Mon vernis s'écaille.
  • Ça s'écaille vite.
  • Éviter l'écaillage.
  • Vernis longue tenue

Art restoration

  • La couche s'écaille.
  • Conserver l'émail.
  • Nettoyage minutieux.
  • Écaillure visible

对话开场白

"Saviez-vous qu'il faut toujours écailler le poisson de la queue vers la tête ?"

"Regarde ce vieux bâtiment, tu ne trouves pas que la peinture qui s'écaille a du charme ?"

"Est-ce que tu préfères écailler le poisson toi-même ou l'acheter déjà prêt ?"

"Ton vernis à ongles s'écaille, tu veux que je te prête mon dissolvant ?"

"Quelle est la meilleure technique pour écailler un bar sans salir toute la cuisine ?"

日记主题

Décrivez votre visite au marché aux poissons. Avez-vous vu le poissonnier écailler les poissons ?

Imaginez que vous restaurez une vieille maison. Parlez de la peinture qui s'écaille sur les murs.

Écrivez une recette de poisson en incluant l'étape où vous devez l'écailler.

Pensez à une métaphore utilisant le mot 'écailler' pour décrire une vérité qui se révèle.

Décrivez la sensation tactile des écailles de poisson et l'action de les enlever.

常见问题

10 个问题

No, for fruit you should use 'peler' or 'éplucher'. 'Écailler' is strictly for things with scales like fish or things that flake like paint.

It is very common in the kitchen and in DIY contexts. You will hear it every time you go to a fish market in France.

The tool is called 'un écailleur'. It usually has a serrated edge to catch and pull the scales off.

Only their skin (if very dry) or their nail polish. It's not used for a person as a whole except metaphorically.

Yes, it is a regular -er verb. J'écaille, tu écailles, il écaille, nous écaillons, vous écaillez, ils écaillent.

Écailler is removing scales from the outside. Vider is removing the internal organs (gutting).

Usually, we say a snake 'mue' (molts), but you could describe its skin as 'écailleuse' (scaly).

In home maintenance, yes, it means the paint is failing. In art, it might just be a sign of age.

You would use 'ébrécher' (une dent ébréchée) rather than 'écailler'.

If the rust causes the paint to flake off in pieces, yes, you can say 'la peinture s'écaille à cause de la rouille'.

自我测试 190 个问题

writing

Translate: I scale the fish.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: The paint is flaking.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write a sentence using 'écailler' and 'couteau'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Describe an old house using 'écaillé'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Explain the role of an 'écailler' in a restaurant.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Conjugate 'écailler' for 'nous'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Conjugate 's'écailler' for 'le vernis'.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: I scaled the fish yesterday.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write a warning for a kitchen apprentice.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Use 'écailler' metaphorically.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: Do you scale the fish?

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: It is easy to scale.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: My nail polish is chipping.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: The wall needs to be scraped.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: The humidity caused the flaking.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write: I scale.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write: You (formal) scale.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write: They scale.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write: We scaled.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write: She was scaling.

Well written! Good try! Check the sample answer below.

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Pronounce: 'Écailler'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Je vais écailler le poisson.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'La peinture s'écaille.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Le poissonnier écaille le bar.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'L'écailler prépare les huîtres.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Poisson'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'Couteau'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'Vernis'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'Peinture'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'Dextérité'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'J'écaille.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Tu écailles.'

Read this aloud:

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speaking

Say: 'Il écaille.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Nous écaillons.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Vous écaillez.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Un poisson.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Un mur.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Une écaille.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'L'écaillage.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'S'écailler.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Écailler'

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen and identify: 'S'écailler'

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen and identify: 'L'écailleur'

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen and identify: 'Écaillé'

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen and identify: 'L'écaillage'

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Je vais écailler.' What is the verb?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'La peinture s'écaille.' What is flaking?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Il a écaillé le bar.' What fish was scaled?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'L'écailler travaille.' Who is working?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
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listening

Listen: 'L'émail s'écaille.' What material is mentioned?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Écaille !' Is it a command?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Nous écaillons.' Who is scaling?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Le vernis.' What is the noun?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Écaillé.' Is it past or present?

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正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen: 'Dextérité.' Is it a quality?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:

/ 190 correct

Perfect score!

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