殻から

か

ら

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 10,000

Meanings

1

Refers to the hard outer covering of animals (shells), eggs, nuts, grains, or legumes. Also used metaphorically for a person's outer shell or withdrawn state.

卵たまごの殻からを割わって中なか身みをボウルに入いれる。

Crack the eggshell and put the contents into a bowl.

彼かれは心こころの殻からに閉とじこもっている。

He has withdrawn into his shell.

Usage patterns

〈物もの〉の殻からをむくto peel/shell something (e.g. an egg, a shrimp)
卵たまごの殻からをむいてサラダに入いれた。
I peeled the shell off the egg and put it in the salad.
〈物もの〉の殻からを割わるto crack the shell of something
くるみの殻からを割わるのに苦く労ろうした。
I had a hard time cracking the walnut shell.
殻からから出でるto come out of one's shell (literally or figuratively)
ひなが殻からから出でてきた。
The chick came out of its shell.

Expressions

もぬけの殻からcompletely empty; vacant; deserted · lifeless body; corpse · shed skin; molted exoskeleton
殻からを破やぶるbreak out of one's shell; make a fresh start; go beyond one's limits
殻からを閉とざすclose up like an oyster; retire into one's shell
殻からに閉とじこもるwithdraw into oneself; shut oneself away; seclude oneself

Kanji

殻husk, nut shell
骸bone, body, corpse

Related words

甲こう羅ら
甲羅 specifically names the hard carapace of crabs, turtles, and similar creatures, whereas 殻 is the general word for any hard outer covering (eggs, nuts, shells, etc.).
いが
殻 is the general word for any shell or husk, while いが names specifically the spiky burr covering chestnuts and similar nuts.
貝かい殻がらN1
殻 is a general word for any outer shell or husk, whereas 貝殻 specifically means a seashell.

Opposites

中なか身みN2
殻 is the outer covering that is discarded, while 中身 is the contents or substance inside it.

Don't confuse with

皮かわN3
殻 is a hard, usually inedible covering like an eggshell or nutshell, while 皮 is a softer skin or peel that is often eaten.

Word family· 27

貝かい殻がらN1
seashell; shell
抜ぬけ殻がら
cast-off skin; exuvia; empty shell
吸すい殻がらN1
cigarette butt; cigarette end; tobacco ashes

Written forms

殻からUsage94%
Standard kanji spelling for shell, husk, hull, or pod.
骸からUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; primarily associated with 'corpse' or 'remains' in other contexts.
カラUsage3%
からUsage1%

Etymology

The historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji 殻 is conventionally associated with 'shell' or 'husk'.

籾もみ殻がら

rice husks; chaff

紅べに殻がら

red iron oxide; red ocher

Show 10 more

出で殻がら
used tea leaves; coffee grounds
ワレカラ
skeleton shrimp; spectre shrimp
殻から竿ざお
flail (for threshing grain)
灰はい殻がら
ashes
炭たん殻がら
coal cinders; cinders
茶ちゃ殻がら
used tea leaves; spent tea leaves
豆まめ殻がら
bean plant remnants; beanstalks and pods; bean husk
カニ殻がら
crab shell; crab shell meal
出だし殻がら
spent grounds; used tea leaves; used coffee grounds
卵たまごの殻から
eggshell

See all 27 in Explore →