At the A1 level, you are just starting to learn the names of foods and basic actions. You might not use the word épépiner yourself very often, but you will see it in simple recipes. Think of it as a 'bonus' word that helps you understand instructions like 'remove the seeds'. At this stage, focus on the connection between pépin (seed) and the action. If you see a recipe that says 'épépinez la tomate', just know it means to take the little seeds out before you eat it or cook it. It's a great word to know if you like cooking or if you're helping a French friend in the kitchen. You can remember it by thinking of the 'p' in 'pépin' and 'p' in 'pepper'—you often have to seed a pepper! A1 learners should focus on the present tense: 'J'épépine la tomate.' It's a regular verb, so it follows the same rules as 'parler' or 'manger'. Don't worry about the complex culinary reasons yet; just focus on the physical action of clearing out the seeds.
At the A2 level, you are expected to handle everyday tasks, including following simple recipes or giving basic kitchen instructions. The word épépiner is very useful here. You should be able to use it in the imperative form to tell someone what to do: 'Épépinez les concombres, s'il vous plaît.' You should also understand that this verb is specific to fruits and vegetables with small seeds. At A2, you start to distinguish between different types of food preparation. You know that you 'épluches' (peel) an apple and then you 'épépines' (seed) it. It's about building a sequence of actions. You might also use it in the past tense to describe what you've already done: 'J'ai épépiné les raisins pour le dessert.' This shows you can use the passé composé with a specific, functional verb. Practice using it with common objects like tomatoes, peppers, and lemons.
For B1 learners, épépiner becomes part of your ability to describe processes in detail. At this level, you aren't just saying 'I'm cooking'; you're explaining *how* you're cooking. You might explain why you are seeding something: 'J'épépine les tomates pour que la sauce ne soit pas trop liquide.' (I'm seeding the tomatoes so the sauce isn't too watery.) This shows you can use 'pour que' with the subjunctive or 'pour' with the infinitive to explain purpose. You should also be comfortable with the word family, recognizing that 'un pépin' is the noun. You might even encounter the word in a metaphorical sense in very informal French (where 'un pépin' means a small problem), though the verb épépiner remains strictly culinary. At B1, you should also be careful with the distinction between épépiner and dénoyauter, as precision in vocabulary is a key marker of this level.
At the B2 level, you should have a firm grasp of technical vocabulary and be able to use épépiner with nuance. You might discuss the culinary traditions of France, such as the specific way to prepare a 'concassé de tomates', where épépiner is a non-negotiable step. You can use the verb in more complex grammatical structures, such as the passive voice or with various pronouns: 'Une fois qu'elles ont été épépinées, les tomates peuvent être coupées en dés.' You might also use it in the conditional to give advice: 'Si j'étais vous, j'épépinerais les piments avant de les ajouter au plat.' At this stage, you understand the stylistic value of using precise verbs rather than general ones. You are also likely to encounter the word in more professional contexts, such as culinary articles or advanced cooking classes, where the 'why' behind the technique is just as important as the 'how'.
C1 learners should be able to use épépiner with complete ease in any culinary or botanical discussion. You might use it when writing a sophisticated food blog or a critique of a restaurant, perhaps noting that a chef's failure to épépiner a certain fruit led to a textural imbalance in a dish. At this level, you can appreciate the etymological roots of the word and its place within the broader system of French prefixes (the privative 'é-'). You might also explore the very rare, almost poetic uses of the word in literature where food preparation is described with extreme sensory detail. Your mastery of the verb includes knowing all its tenses, including the subjonctif présent and plus-que-parfait: 'Il aurait fallu que tu épépinasses ces raisins...' (though the imperfect subjunctive is mostly for literary effect). You understand the word's register—functional and precise, yet common.
At the C2 level, your understanding of épépiner is that of a native speaker with a high level of education. You can discuss the historical evolution of culinary techniques in France and how the act of épépiner has changed with the introduction of new kitchen tools. You might engage in a debate about the merits of seeding tomatoes versus keeping the seeds for their umami flavor—a common topic in modern gastronomy. You can use the word flawlessly in complex, multi-clause sentences and identify it in any context, from a fast-paced professional kitchen environment to a dense botanical text. You might also be aware of regional dialects or older culinary texts where the word might appear in slightly different forms. Essentially, épépiner is no longer a 'vocabulary word' to you; it is a precise tool in your linguistic arsenal, used with total control and cultural awareness.

épépiner 30秒了解

  • Épépiner means to remove seeds from fruits like tomatoes or grapes.
  • It is a regular -er verb used primarily in cooking contexts.
  • Do not confuse it with 'dénoyauter', which is for larger pits.
  • Seeding helps improve texture and reduces bitterness in recipes.

The French verb épépiner is a specialized culinary term that every aspiring chef or home cook in France learns early in their journey. At its most basic level, it means 'to remove the seeds' from a fruit or a vegetable. However, in the context of French gastronomy, it represents a commitment to texture, presentation, and flavor profile. The word is a derivative of pépin, which refers to the small seeds found in fruits like grapes, apples, pears, or vegetables like tomatoes and cucumbers. When you add the prefix é-, which often denotes removal or deprivation in French, you get the action of taking those seeds out. This is not merely a chore; it is a step that transforms a rustic dish into a refined one by removing the bitterness or the watery texture that seeds can often introduce.

The Botanical Context
In French, there is a clear distinction between a pépin and a noyau. A pépin is a small seed (like in a lemon), while a noyau is a large pit or stone (like in a peach or cherry). Therefore, you épépinez a tomato, but you dénoyautez a cherry. Using the wrong term in a professional kitchen would immediately mark you as an amateur.
The Culinary Justification
Why do we bother to épépiner? In many recipes, especially sauces like a classic French tomato concassé, the seeds and the surrounding gel contain a high amount of moisture and a different acidity level than the flesh. By removing them, the chef gains total control over the consistency and the balance of the sauce. Furthermore, for certain delicate preserves, such as the world-famous confiture de groseilles from Bar-le-Duc, the seeds are removed one by one using a goose quill, an ultimate act of culinary patience.

Pour réussir une ratatouille parfaite, il est essentiel d'abord d' épépiner les tomates et les poivrons afin d'éviter que le plat ne devienne trop liquide.

— A common instruction in traditional French cooking.

You will encounter this word most frequently in written recipes (les fiches techniques), during cooking shows, or when discussing food preparation with French speakers. It is a functional, precise verb that belongs to the 'technical' vocabulary of the kitchen, yet it is common enough that any adult speaker knows exactly what it entails. It is rarely used metaphorically, unlike some other food verbs, but its literal application is vast across the vegetable and fruit kingdoms.

Le chef a demandé à son apprenti d' épépiner cinq kilos de raisins pour la garniture de la sole Véronique.

Common Objects of the Verb
  • Les tomates : To prevent a watery sauce.
  • Les concombres : To make them more digestible.
  • Les pommes et poires : Before making a compote or tart.
  • Les poivrons : To remove the bitter white ribs and seeds.

N'oubliez pas d' épépiner le piment si vous ne voulez pas que le plat soit trop relevé.

In summary, épépiner is a verb of precision. It signals a transition from raw ingredients to a prepared component. Whether you are following a recipe for a sophisticated French mousse or just preparing a healthy snack for children, knowing how and when to épépiner is a fundamental skill in the French-speaking culinary world.

Using épépiner correctly involves understanding its role as a transitive verb. This means it always takes a direct object—the thing from which you are removing the seeds. Because it is a regular -er verb, its conjugation follows the most common pattern in French, making it accessible even for beginners once they master the specific vocabulary for fruits and vegetables.

The Imperative Form (Instructions)
In recipes, you will most often see the imperative.
"Épépinez les tomates." (Remove the seeds from the tomatoes.)
"Épépine le concombre avant de le couper en dés." (Remove the seeds from the cucumber before dicing it.)
The Infinitive After Verbs of Motion or Desire
We often use the infinitive when describing a process.
"Je vais épépiner les raisins pour la salade de fruits." (I am going to seed the grapes for the fruit salad.)
"Il faut épépiner les citrons pour éviter l'amertume." (It is necessary to seed the lemons to avoid bitterness.)

Après avoir lavé les légumes, vous devez les épépiner soigneusement avec une petite cuillère.

— A typical step in a vegetable preparation guide.

When using épépiner in the past tense (passé composé), use the auxiliary verb avoir. For example: "J'ai épépiné toutes les pommes pour la compote." (I seeded all the apples for the sauce). Note that the past participle épépiné can also function as an adjective. A "tomate épépinée" is a seeded tomato. This is common on restaurant menus to indicate a high level of preparation.

Elle épépinait les grenades avec une patience infinie pour décorer son dessert.

Refining Your Vocabulary
While épépiner is the standard term, in very casual speech, someone might say "enlever les pépins". However, using the specific verb makes you sound much more fluent and precise. In a professional kitchen (une brigade), precision is everything. If a chef tells you to épépiner, don't just cut around them; use a spoon or a knife to remove only the seeds.

Si vous n' épépinez pas les raisins, la confiture aura une texture désagréable sous la dent.

Finally, consider the reflexive possibilities, though rare. You wouldn't 'seed yourself', but you might talk about the action in a general sense using the passive pronominal: "Les tomates s'épépinent plus facilement quand elles sont bien mûres." (Tomatoes are seeded more easily when they are very ripe.) This structure is great for describing how techniques work in general terms.

The word épépiner is a staple of the French media landscape, especially given the country's obsession with food. If you turn on a French television channel during the day, you are almost guaranteed to find a cooking show like "Petits plats en équilibre" or "Le Meilleur Pâtissier". In these programs, chefs use épépiner constantly as they demonstrate techniques to the audience. It is a word that bridges the gap between the professional world and the domestic one.

In the Professional Kitchen
If you were to work in a French restaurant, épépiner would be part of your daily 'mise en place'. A sous-chef might bark out, "Dépêche-toi d'épépiner ces tomates, le service commence dans dix minutes !" It is a task often given to apprentices because it requires focus and speed but is fundamental to the quality of the final dish.
In Traditional Recipes
Open any classic French cookbook, like the "Larousse Gastronomique" or a collection by Paul Bocuse. You will find épépiner in the instructions for gazpacho, ratatouille, piperade, and various fruit coulis. It is often paired with other verbs like monder (to skin a tomato) or concasser (to roughly chop).

Dans cette vidéo de cuisine, le chef explique comment épépiner un concombre en utilisant simplement une petite cuillère parisienne.

— A typical sentence you might hear in a YouTube tutorial.

Beyond the screen, you will hear this word in French households. Parents teaching their children how to help with dinner might say, "Tu peux m'aider à épépiner les pommes pour la tarte ?" It is one of those 'grown-up' kitchen words that children learn as they transition from eating to helping. It carries a sense of helpfulness and participation in the family's culinary traditions.

Avez-vous fini d' épépiner les piments ? Attention à ne pas vous toucher les yeux après !

Regional Variations
While the word is standard across the Francophonie, you might hear it more often in the South of France (Provence) where tomato-based dishes are more prevalent. In the North, it might be more associated with apples and pears for cider or desserts. Regardless of the region, the action remains a symbol of culinary care.

Il est hors de question de servir cette sauce sans l'avoir fait épépiner au préalable par les commis.

Lastly, in the context of healthy eating and modern nutrition, you might hear épépiner mentioned in blogs or podcasts discussing how to make vegetables more digestible. Some people find the seeds of cucumbers or tomatoes difficult to digest, so the act of épépiner is often recommended as a dietary tip.

Even though épépiner is a relatively straightforward verb, learners often stumble over its specific application and its spelling. Understanding these common pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid confusion in the kitchen.

The 'Pépin' vs. 'Noyau' Confusion
The most common mistake is using épépiner for everything that has a seed or pit. Remember: épépiner is for pépins (small seeds). If you are removing the large stone from an avocado, a peach, or a cherry, you must use the verb dénoyauter. Saying "épépiner une pêche" sounds very strange to a French ear—it's like saying you're 'deseeding' a bowling ball.
Spelling and Accents
Learners often forget the acute accent on the first 'é' or get confused by the double 'p'. The word is é-p-é-p-i-n-e-r. Remember the rhythm: 'ay-pay-pee-nay'. In certain conjugations, like the present tense "j'épépine", the second 'é' remains an 'é', unlike some other verbs where it might change to an 'è' (like céder becoming je cède). This consistency actually makes it easier once you memorize the base form.

Faux : J'ai dénoyauté les raisins.
Vrai : J'ai épépiné les raisins.

— Accurate word choice depends on the size of the seed.

Another mistake is confusing épépiner with évider. While évider means to hollow something out (like hollowing out a zucchini to stuff it), épépiner specifically focuses on the seeds. You might évider an apple to make a baked apple, and in the process, you are épépinage (seeding) it, but the two verbs emphasize different parts of the action.

Attention : On ne dit pas « enlever les graines » si on veut parler comme un chef ; on utilise le verbe épépiner.

Overusing the Verb
Don't use épépiner for things that don't have pépins. For example, you don't épépiner a pea pod (you écossez it) or a fish (you écaillez it). The verb is strictly for the botanical 'pépin'. Using it outside of this context can lead to humorous misunderstandings.

Il a essayé d' épépiner les cerises, mais il aurait dû utiliser un dénoyauteur.

Finally, remember that épépiner is an active process. If you buy a 'seedless' fruit, it is sans pépins. You don't say it has been 'épépiné' unless someone actually sat there and removed them manually. This distinction between the state of the fruit and the action performed on it is important for clarity.

In the rich vocabulary of the French kitchen, several words share a similar space with épépiner. Knowing the nuances between them will allow you to describe food preparation with the precision of a professional.

Dénoyauter vs. Épépiner
As discussed, this is the most important distinction.
Épépiner : For small seeds (pépins) in tomatoes, grapes, apples.
Dénoyauter : For large pits (noyaux) in olives, cherries, apricots, plums.
Évider vs. Épépiner
Évider means 'to hollow out'. You évidez a vegetable when you want to fill it with something else (like tomates farcies). While épépiner is often the first step of évider, the latter implies removing some of the flesh as well to create a cavity.

On peut épépiner une pomme avec un couteau, mais pour l' évider complètement, on utilise un vide-pomme.

— Comparing the specific action with the broader one.

Another alternative is the phrase "ôter les graines". This is more general and can be used for any type of seed, including those in pumpkins or melons where the seeds might be called graines rather than pépins. However, épépiner remains the more elegant and specific choice for culinary contexts.

Pour cette recette de piments farcis, il faut d'abord les épépiner sans percer la peau.

Related Verbs of Preparation
  • Peler / Éplucher : To remove the skin.
  • Monder : To skin a tomato after blanching it.
  • Concasser : To chop coarsely (often done after épépiner).
  • Équeuter : To remove the stems (like for strawberries).

Le commis doit épépiner les citrons avant d'en extraire le jus pour la marinade.

Understanding these distinctions helps you navigate a French kitchen with confidence. While a beginner might just say "couper les légumes", an intermediate learner knows to specify: "Je vais peler, épépiner, puis concasser les tomates." This level of detail is exactly what CEFR A2 and B1 levels aim for—moving from generalities to specific, functional language.

How Formal Is It?

趣味小知识

The word 'pépin' might come from a root meaning 'small' or 'pointed', shared with words like 'pique'. In French slang, a 'pépin' is also an umbrella (un parapluie), though the verb 'épépiner' doesn't apply there!

发音指南

UK /e.pe.pi.ne/
US /e.pe.pi.ne/
Stress is evenly distributed, with a slight emphasis on the final syllable 'ne'.
押韵词
cuisiner diner terminer dessiner deviner imaginer miner patiner
常见错误
  • Pronouncing the final 'r'. It should be silent.
  • Making the first 'e' sound like 'uh' (schwa). It must be a clear 'ay' sound.
  • Confusing the 'p' sounds with 'b' sounds.
  • Skipping the second syllable 'pé'.
  • Nasalizing the 'in' in the middle. It is 'pi-ne', not 'pin'.

难度评级

阅读 2/5

Easy to recognize in recipes as it looks like its noun 'pépin'.

写作 3/5

Requires remembering the double 'p' and the accent.

口语 2/5

Regular -er pronunciation is straightforward for learners.

听力 2/5

Clear syllables make it easy to hear.

接下来学什么

前置知识

fruit légume pépin couper cuisine

接下来学习

dénoyauter éplucher évider monder concasser

高级

botanique endocarpe pericarpe capsaïcine

需要掌握的语法

Regular -er verb conjugation

J'épépine, tu épépines, il épépine...

Use of 'avoir' in passé composé

J'ai épépiné les citrons.

The privative prefix 'é-'

é- + pépin = remove seed; é- + corce = remove bark (écorcer).

Past participle as an adjective

Une tomate épépinée.

Object pronouns with infinitives

Je vais les épépiner.

按水平分级的例句

1

Je dois épépiner la tomate.

I must seed the tomato.

Simple present tense with 'devoir'.

2

Tu épépines le citron ?

Are you seeding the lemon?

Interrogative in the present tense.

3

Épépinez la pomme maintenant.

Seed the apple now.

Imperative plural/formal.

4

Il n'aime pas épépiner les raisins.

He doesn't like to seed grapes.

Negation with infinitive.

5

Nous épépinons les légumes ensemble.

We are seeding the vegetables together.

Present tense, 'nous' form.

6

Elle épépine le concombre.

She is seeding the cucumber.

Present tense, 'elle' form.

7

C'est facile d'épépiner un poivron.

It is easy to seed a bell pepper.

Infinitive after 'c'est facile de'.

8

Ils épépinent les fruits pour la tarte.

They are seeding the fruits for the tart.

Present tense, 'ils' form.

1

J'ai oublié d'épépiner les tomates hier.

I forgot to seed the tomatoes yesterday.

Passé composé with infinitive.

2

Voulez-vous m'aider à épépiner ces raisins ?

Do you want to help me seed these grapes?

Helping verb 'aider à' + infinitive.

3

Il a épépiné le piment avec un couteau.

He seeded the chili with a knife.

Passé composé.

4

Il faut épépiner le fruit avant de le manger.

It is necessary to seed the fruit before eating it.

Impersonal 'il faut' + infinitive.

5

On épépine souvent les concombres pour la salade.

We often seed cucumbers for the salad.

Use of 'on' for general actions.

6

Elle va épépiner les pommes pour sa grand-mère.

She is going to seed the apples for her grandmother.

Futur proche.

7

N'épépine pas les fraises, c'est inutile !

Don't seed the strawberries, it's useless!

Negative imperative.

8

Nous avons épépiné tous les légumes ce matin.

We seeded all the vegetables this morning.

Passé composé, 'nous' form.

1

Si tu épépines les tomates, la sauce sera plus épaisse.

If you seed the tomatoes, the sauce will be thicker.

Hypothetical 'si' clause (present + future).

2

Je préfère épépiner les raisins à la main.

I prefer to seed the grapes by hand.

Verb of preference + infinitive.

3

Bien qu'il soit long d'épépiner ces fruits, le résultat en vaut la peine.

Although it takes a long time to seed these fruits, the result is worth it.

Conjunction 'bien que' + subjunctive.

4

Elle épépinait les poires quand le téléphone a sonné.

She was seeding the pears when the phone rang.

Imparfait for ongoing action.

5

Il est important que vous épépiniez les piments soigneusement.

It is important that you seed the chilies carefully.

Subjunctive mood after 'il est important que'.

6

Après les avoir épépinées, coupez les tomates en quatre.

After having seeded them, cut the tomatoes in four.

Past infinitive with direct object pronoun.

7

On m'a dit d'épépiner les concombres pour les rendre plus digestes.

I was told to seed the cucumbers to make them more digestible.

Passive construction 'on m'a dit de'.

8

Tu devrais épépiner ce citron avant d'en presser le jus.

You should seed this lemon before squeezing the juice from it.

Conditional for advice.

1

Le chef exige que chaque stagiaire sache épépiner une tomate en dix secondes.

The chef demands that every intern knows how to seed a tomato in ten seconds.

Subjunctive after a verb of demand.

2

En épépinant les raisins, vous éviterez l'amertume dans votre gelée.

By seeding the grapes, you will avoid bitterness in your jelly.

Gérondif (en + participle) to show means.

3

Les piments, une fois épépinés, perdent une grande partie de leur force.

The chilies, once seeded, lose a large part of their heat.

Passive participle used as an adjective/clause.

4

Il est rare de trouver quelqu'un qui accepte d'épépiner les groseilles à la plume.

It is rare to find someone who agrees to seed redcurrants with a quill.

Complex relative clause.

5

Elle aurait épépiné les fruits si elle avait eu plus de temps.

She would have seeded the fruits if she had had more time.

Conditionnel passé (si + plus-que-parfait).

6

Le commis s'affairait à épépiner les légumes pour la ratatouille du soir.

The kitchen hand was busy seeding the vegetables for the evening's ratatouille.

Reflexive verb 's'affairer à' + infinitive.

7

Bien que fastidieux, l'acte d'épépiner garantit une texture soyeuse au coulis.

Although tedious, the act of seeding guarantees a silky texture to the coulis.

Noun phrase used as subject.

8

On ne saurait trop conseiller d'épépiner les concombres avant de les faire dégorger.

One cannot recommend enough to seed cucumbers before salting them.

Formal 'on ne saurait trop' construction.

1

L'art d'épépiner les fruits délicats requiert une dextérité que peu possèdent.

The art of seeding delicate fruits requires a dexterity that few possess.

Abstract subject with relative clause.

2

Dans son traité culinaire, il préconise d'épépiner systématiquement les solanacées.

In his culinary treatise, he advocates for systematically seeding nightshades.

Formal vocabulary (préconiser, solanacées).

3

S'étant appliqué à épépiner chaque grain de raisin, il présenta un dessert d'une finesse inouïe.

Having applied himself to seeding every single grape, he presented a dessert of incredible finesse.

Compound participle (s'étant appliqué).

4

Il est impératif que l'on épépine les tomates afin d'en extraire la quintessence du goût.

It is imperative that one seeds the tomatoes in order to extract the essence of the taste.

Subjunctive with 'on' and 'afin de'.

5

L'amertume résiduelle provenait sans doute de ce qu'on avait omis d'épépiner les citrons.

The residual bitterness probably came from the fact that they had neglected to seed the lemons.

Complex causal construction 'provenir de ce que'.

6

À force d'épépiner des kilos de poivrons, ses mains avaient fini par s'irriter.

By dint of seeding kilos of peppers, his hands had eventually become irritated.

Idiom 'à force de' showing cause.

7

Quoi qu'on en dise, épépiner les raisins reste une tâche ingrate mais nécessaire.

Whatever people say, seeding grapes remains a thankless but necessary task.

Concessive 'quoi qu'on en dise'.

8

Le raffinement d'une gelée de groseilles se mesure à la rigueur avec laquelle on l'a fait épépiner.

The refinement of a redcurrant jelly is measured by the rigor with which it was made to be seeded.

Causative 'faire' with relative pronoun 'laquelle'.

1

L'exigence de la haute gastronomie impose d'épépiner les baies avec une précision quasi chirurgicale.

The demands of haute gastronomie dictate seeding berries with almost surgical precision.

High-register abstract nouns.

2

Il eût fallu épépiner les fruits plus tôt pour éviter cette fermentation intempestive.

It would have been necessary to seed the fruits earlier to avoid this untimely fermentation.

Conditionnel passé second forme (literary).

3

La texture veloutée du potage ne fut obtenue qu'au prix d'un épépinage long et fastidieux.

The velvety texture of the soup was only obtained at the cost of a long and tedious seeding process.

Passive voice 'ne... que' construction.

4

Dans l'ombre de l'office, les commis s'escrimaient à épépiner les légumes sous l'œil sévère du chef.

In the shadows of the pantry, the assistants struggled to seed the vegetables under the chef's stern eye.

Literary verb 's'escrimer à'.

5

Nul ne saurait ignorer l'importance d'épépiner les agrumes pour en préserver la limpidité du suc.

No one can ignore the importance of seeding citrus fruits to preserve the clarity of the juice.

Formal 'nul ne saurait'.

6

L'ouvrage décrit avec une minutie extrême la manière d'épépiner les groseilles sans en altérer la pulpe.

The work describes with extreme meticulousness the way to seed redcurrants without altering the pulp.

Prepositional phrase 'sans en altérer'.

7

Fût-ce pour une simple ménagère, savoir épépiner correctement demeure le b.a.-ba de l'économie domestique.

Be it for a simple housewife, knowing how to seed correctly remains the basics of domestic economy.

Subjunctive 'fût-ce' for concession.

8

L'amertume, cette ennemie du palais, se tapit souvent là où l'on a négligé d'épépiner.

Bitterness, that enemy of the palate, often lurks where one has neglected to seed.

Personification and relative 'là où'.

常见搭配

épépiner les tomates
épépiner soigneusement
épépiner à la main
épépiner avec une cuillère
épépiner avant de mixer
épépiner les piments
facile à épépiner
long à épépiner
faire épépiner
épépiner les citrons

常用短语

épépiner une tomate

— The most common use of the verb. Essential for sauces.

Apprends d'abord à épépiner une tomate correctement.

épépiner à la plume

— A traditional, very rare technique using a quill. Usually for redcurrants.

La confiture de Bar-le-Duc est épépinée à la plume.

épépiner les raisins

— Removing seeds from grapes, often for salads or preserves.

C'est un travail de patience que d'épépiner les raisins.

épépiner un concombre

— Removing the watery center of a cucumber.

Épépiner un concombre le rend plus croquant.

épépiner les pommes

— Removing the core and seeds from apples.

Il faut épépiner les pommes avant de faire la compote.

sans épépiner

— Doing something without removing the seeds.

Peut-on mixer les tomates sans les épépiner ?

épépiner les poivrons

— Removing the seeds and white ribs from bell peppers.

Épépiner les poivrons est la première étape de la recette.

épépiner pour la confiture

— Seeding fruit specifically for making jam.

Elle passe son après-midi à épépiner pour la confiture.

épépiner les agrumes

— Removing seeds from lemons, oranges, etc.

Épépiner les agrumes permet d'obtenir un jus pur.

bien épépiner

— To seed thoroughly.

Il faut bien épépiner pour éviter l'amertume.

容易混淆的词

épépiner vs dénoyauter

Removing pits (stones) vs. small seeds.

épépiner vs évider

Hollowing out the entire center vs. just removing seeds.

épépiner vs éplucher

Removing the skin vs. removing the seeds.

习语与表达

"avoir un pépin"

— To have a hitch or a small problem. While using the noun, it's the most common idiom related to the word family.

Je serai en retard, j'ai eu un petit pépin avec ma voiture.

informal
"grain de raisin épépiné"

— Used metaphorically to describe something handled with extreme, perhaps excessive, care.

Son dossier était soigné comme un grain de raisin épépiné.

literary
"manger les pépins avec le fruit"

— To take the good with the bad, or to be unrefined.

Lui, il ne s'embête pas, il mange les pépins avec le fruit.

informal
"ne pas valoir un pépin"

— To be worthless (literally: not worth a seed).

Cette vieille radio ne vaut plus un pépin.

old-fashioned
"être pressé comme un citron (épépiné)"

— To be squeezed dry/exhausted (the 'épépiné' part is a humorous addition indicating total exhaustion).

Après cette journée, je suis pressé comme un citron épépiné.

informal
"garder un pépin pour la soif"

— A play on 'garder une poire pour la soif' (saving for a rainy day), but implies saving a small problem for later.

Il a toujours un petit pépin en réserve pour se plaindre.

informal
"épépiner la réalité"

— To filter the truth, removing the 'bits' one doesn't like.

Il a tendance à épépiner la réalité pour la rendre plus douce.

metaphorical
"un travail de Bar-le-Duc"

— Refers to the meticulous seeding of redcurrants; means a very long, delicate task.

Trier ces archives, c'est un travail de Bar-le-Duc !

cultural
"secouer le pépin"

— To shake one's head or to think hard (slang).

Allez, secoue-toi le pépin et trouve une solution !

slang
"lâcher le pépin"

— To stop bothering someone or to let go of a small issue.

Lâche-moi le pépin avec tes questions !

slang

容易混淆

épépiner vs dénoyauter

Both involve removing parts of a fruit.

Épépiner is for small seeds (pépins); dénoyauter is for large stones (noyaux). You épépine a grape but dénoyauter an olive.

On épépine la tomate mais on dénoyaute la cerise.

épépiner vs évider

Both can involve removing the center of a fruit.

Évider means to hollow out, creating a space for stuffing. Épépiner is just about the seeds. You can épépiner without fully évider.

Évidez la courge pour la farcir.

épépiner vs écosser

Both involve removing a part of a vegetable.

Écosser is for removing beans or peas from their pods. Épépiner is for seeds inside the flesh.

On écosse les petits pois.

épépiner vs écailler

Similar prefix and culinary context.

Écailler is for removing scales from a fish. It has nothing to do with seeds.

Le poissonnier doit écailler le bar.

épépiner vs monder

Often done in the same recipe as épépiner.

Monder specifically means to remove the skin (usually of tomatoes or almonds). It is the step before épépiner.

Il faut monder les tomates avant de les épépiner.

句型

A1

Je [verb] le [noun].

Je épépine le citron.

A2

Il faut [verb] les [noun].

Il faut épépiner les tomates.

B1

Si tu [verb], tu [future verb].

Si tu épépines les raisins, tu réussiras ta gelée.

B2

Après avoir [past participle], [clause].

Après avoir épépiné les légumes, commencez la cuisson.

C1

Bien que [subjunctive], [clause].

Bien qu'on épépine rarement les fraises, c'est possible.

C2

Nul ne saurait [verb] sans [verb].

Nul ne saurait cuisiner sans savoir épépiner.

Mixed

[Imperative] !

Épépinez !

Mixed

C'est [adjective] de [verb].

C'est long d'épépiner.

词族

名词

pépin (m) - the seed
épépinage (m) - the act of seeding
épépineuse (f) - a machine for seeding

动词

dépépiner - variant of épépiner

形容词

épépiné(e) - seeded
sans pépins - seedless

相关

graine (f)
noyau (m)
dénoyauter
fruit (m)
légume (m)

如何使用

frequency

Common in culinary contexts, rare elsewhere.

常见错误
  • Épépiner une cerise Dénoyauter une cerise

    Cherries have pits (noyaux), not small seeds (pépins).

  • J'épépinerai les tomates (misspelled) J'épépinerai

    Watch the accents and the double 'p'.

  • Enlever les noyaux des raisins Épépiner les raisins

    Grapes have pépins, not noyaux.

  • Épépiner le poisson Écailler le poisson

    You remove scales from fish, not seeds.

  • Pronouncing the 'r' at the end. Pronounce it like 'ay'.

    In -er verbs, the 'r' is silent in the infinitive.

小贴士

The Exit Strategy

Think of the 'é' as 'Exit'. You are making the 'pépins' (seeds) exit the fruit. E-pépin-er.

Regular Verb

Don't overthink the conjugation. It follows the exact same pattern as 'parler'. If you know one, you know them all.

Texture Matters

If a French recipe says 'épépinez', don't skip it. It's usually the difference between a watery sauce and a professional-grade one.

Pépin vs Noyau

Small seeds = épépiner. Large pits = dénoyauter. This is the most important distinction to remember.

Silent R

The final 'r' is never pronounced in the infinitive. It sounds like 'épépiné'.

Use a Spoon

For cucumbers and tomatoes, a small spoon is often more effective and safer than a knife for 'épépiner'.

Chili Caution

When you 'épépinez' a chili pepper, the seeds are the hottest part. Wash your hands immediately after!

Sans Pépins

Look for 'sans pépins' on labels in French supermarkets if you want to avoid the work of 'épépiner'.

Double P

Remember the word has two 'p's. Think of 'Peppin' as a name to help you remember the double consonant.

The Concassé

Visualize a tomato 'concassé'. It is peeled, seeded (épépiné), and chopped. This is the classic context for the word.

记住它

记忆技巧

Think of 'E-Peppin-er'. The 'E' is like 'Exit'—you are making the 'Pépins' (seeds) 'Exit' the fruit.

视觉联想

Imagine a tiny 'pépin' (seed) being flicked away by a finger. The 'é' at the start is the flicking motion.

Word Web

pépin fruit tomate cuisine dénoyauter graine confiture sauce

挑战

Go to your kitchen, find a tomato, and say 'Je vais épépiner cette tomate' while you remove the seeds.

词源

Derived from the French noun 'pépin' (seed), which appeared in the 13th century. The prefix 'é-' was added to indicate removal.

原始含义: To remove the seeds from a fruit.

Romance (French).

文化背景

No particular sensitivities. It is a neutral culinary term.

English speakers often use the generic 'seed' or 'deseed'. 'Épépiner' is more specific and common in French than 'deseed' is in everyday English.

Larousse Gastronomique (the culinary bible) Le Meilleur Pâtissier (French TV show) Confiture de Bar-le-Duc

在生活中练习

真实语境

Making a salad

  • Épépiner le concombre
  • Retirer les pépins
  • Couper en dés
  • Assaisonner

Making jam

  • Épépiner les raisins
  • Cuire le fruit
  • Ajouter le sucre
  • Mettre en pot

Preparing spicy food

  • Épépiner le piment
  • Porter des gants
  • Laver les mains
  • Réduire le piquant

Baking a tart

  • Épépiner les pommes
  • Disposer les quartiers
  • Saupoudrer de cannelle
  • Enfourner

Professional kitchen

  • Mise en place
  • Épépiner à la chaîne
  • Respecter la technique
  • Vitesse d'exécution

对话开场白

"Est-ce que tu épépines toujours tes tomates pour la sauce ?"

"Quelle est la méthode la plus rapide pour épépiner un concombre ?"

"As-tu déjà essayé d'épépiner des raisins à la main ?"

"Pourquoi est-il important d'épépiner les piments ?"

"Sais-tu faire la différence entre épépiner et dénoyauter ?"

日记主题

Décrivez votre recette préférée qui nécessite d'épépiner des légumes.

Aimez-vous les fruits avec ou sans pépins ? Pourquoi ?

Racontez une expérience en cuisine où vous avez oublié d'épépiner un ingrédient.

Pensez-vous que la cuisine française est trop compliquée avec ses techniques comme l'épépinage ?

Imaginez que vous devez épépiner 10 kilos de raisins. Comment vous sentez-vous ?

常见问题

10 个问题

No, you should use 'dénoyauter' because a cherry has a 'noyau' (pit), not a 'pépin' (small seed). Using 'épépiner' for cherries would sound incorrect to a native speaker.

Yes, 'dépépiner' is a synonym of 'épépiner'. However, 'épépiner' is much more common in standard French and in professional culinary environments.

Not necessarily. You 'épépine' when you want to avoid extra liquid or when you want a very smooth texture, like in a coulis or a fine sauce.

It's a regular -er verb: J'épépine, tu épépines, il/elle épépine, nous épépinons, vous épépinez, ils/elles épépinent.

Usually a small spoon (cuillère) or a paring knife (couteau d'office). For apples, you might use a 'vide-pomme' (apple corer).

Generally no. It is almost exclusively used in culinary and botanical contexts. The noun 'pépin' has idioms, but the verb is literal.

It is a precise, technical word, but it's used by everyone. It's not overly formal, just accurate.

There isn't a single culinary opposite, but 'semer' (to sow/plant seeds) is the botanical opposite action.

The prefix 'é-' in French often means 'to remove' or 'away from'. It's found in words like 'écrémer' (to remove cream) or 'écorcer' (to remove bark).

Yes, that is perfectly understandable and common in casual speech, but 'épépiner' is the proper culinary term.

自我测试 191 个问题

writing

Write a sentence using 'épépiner' in the imperative.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'I am seeding the grapes.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Describe why we seed a chili pepper.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Use 'épépiné' as an adjective in a sentence.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'We have seeded the apples for the tart.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write a sentence with 'il faut' and 'épépiner'.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'She forgot to seed the lemons.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Explain the difference between épépiner and dénoyauter.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write a short recipe step for a tomato sauce.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'I prefer seedless grapes.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Use the future tense of épépiner.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'They are seeding the peppers together.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write a question asking if someone has seeded the fruit.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'It is easy to seed a cucumber.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Use the word 'soigneusement' with 'épépiner'.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'Don't seed the strawberries.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Describe the texture of a seeded tomato.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'The chef seeds the vegetables.'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Write a sentence about making jam.

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
writing

Translate: 'Who seeded these apples?'

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

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Pronounce the word: épépiner.

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'I am seeding the tomato.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Seed the grapes, please.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'It is necessary to seed the peppers.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'I have seeded the apples.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Explain in French what 'épépiner' means.

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Don't forget to seed the lemon.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'We are seeding the cucumbers together.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Is it easy to seed a chili?'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'The chef seeds the vegetables quickly.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'I like seedless fruit.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'She is seeding the pears for the tart.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'They seeded the grapes by hand.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'You should seed the tomatoes for the sauce.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Wait, I need to seed this fruit.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Who wants to help me seed?'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'It takes a long time to seed everything.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'The tomatoes are already seeded.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'I am going to seed the peppers now.'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
speaking

Say: 'Do you seed the cucumbers before cutting them?'

Read this aloud:

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
listening

Listen and identify the verb: 'Épépinez les raisins.'

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

Listen: 'J'ai épépiné la tomate.' What did I do?

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

Listen: 'Il faut épépiner les piments.' What vegetable is mentioned?

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

Listen: 'Elle n'aime pas épépiner.' Does she like seeding?

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

Listen: 'Nous épépinons les citrons.' Who is seeding?

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

Listen: 'Où est le vide-pomme pour épépiner ?' What tool is needed?

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

Listen: 'C'est facile d'épépiner un concombre.' Is it hard?

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

Listen: 'Les raisins sont déjà épépinés.' Are the grapes ready?

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

Listen: 'Épépinez soigneusement.' How should you do it?

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

Listen: 'Tu épépines les fruits ?' Is it a question or statement?

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

Listen: 'Je vais épépiner les pommes.' What fruit?

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

Listen: 'N'épépine pas les fraises.' What should you NOT seed?

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

Listen: 'Le chef épépine vite.' How does the chef seed?

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

Listen: 'Aidez-moi à épépiner.' What is the request?

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

Listen: 'On épépine pour la confiture.' Why seed?

正确! 不太对。 正确答案:
正确! 不太对。 正确答案:

/ 191 correct

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