Definition

1. Noun:
   • Fish scale: The small, rigid, plate-like structure that covers the skin of most fish, serving as a protective layer.
   • (Medical) Ichthyosis: A skin condition characterized by dry, scaly, or flaky skin, likened to fish scales.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Con cá này có vảy cá rất cứng. (This fish has very hard scales.)
  • Cô ấy bị một bệnh về da gọi là vảy cá. (She has a skin condition called ichthyosis.)
  • Trước khi nấu, bạn nên cạo sạch vảy cá. (Before cooking, you should scrape off the fish scales.)

Advanced Usage

• "Vảy cá mập": shark scales (specifically referring to the unique placoid scales of sharks).
  • Vảy cá mập có cấu trúc rất đặc biệt. (Shark scales have a very unique structure.)

Variants and Related Words

• Vảy (n): A general term for scales (e.g., on reptiles, fish) or flakes (e.g., dandruff, paint flakes).

  • Vảy rắn (snake scale), vảy trên da đầu (dandruff flakes).

• Cạo vảy (v): To scale a fish (the action of removing scales).

  • Công đoạn cạo vảy rất quan trọng khi sơ chế cá. (Scaling is a very important step when preparing fish.)

Synonyms

• Scale: The small, hard plate forming part of the outer layer of a fish or reptile.
• Flake: A small, thin piece of something, often used for skin conditions.

Related Idioms

• Cứng như vảy cá: As hard as fish scales (describing something very tough or rigid).
  • Miếng da này cứng như vảy cá. (This piece of leather is as hard as fish scales.)