うろこ・鱗uroko[3]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounscale (of fish, snake, etc.)
2. nounserif (on kana or kanji (e.g. in Mincho font))

• Synonym鱗片りんぺんWrittenRefers to scales as individual pieces, and also to plant scales; leans technical.
• SynonymうろくずWrittenArchaic literary word for fish scales, also used for fish in general; rarely encountered in modern Japanese.
• Related鱗屑りんせつWrittenMedical term for the small flakes that come off skin in skin diseases; it does not mean fish scales.

For the scales of fish and snakes in everyday speech, use 「鱗」 — as in the idiom 「目から鱗が落ちる」. In technical writing use 「鱗片」 for individual or plant scales, and 「鱗屑」 for skin flakes; 「うろくず」 is archaic.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 魚類ぎょるいや爬虫類はちゅうるいなどの動物どうぶつの体からだの表面ひょうめんを覆おおっているもの。うろくず。[1563年ねん～]
2. 1に似にた三角形さんかっけいの形かたちをしたもの。[19世紀せいき～]