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I know many of you dread this subject: you either speak a language that doesn't have word genders and you think it's mad (hello, English, Japanese and Chinese speakers!) or you speak a language that has its own word genders which clash with the French ones (hello, Russians, German and Spanish speakers!).
我知道你们许多人担心这个问题：要么你说的语言是没有词性的，或许你认为这有点不可思议（你好，说英语，日语和中文的人！），或者你说的语言有自己的词性且与法语中的相关内容是冲突的（你好，说俄语，德语和西班牙语的人！）。
Everyone seems to have a good reason to dislike this part of the French grammar. In fact, I think I've never met a single student that said "What a fun concept, let's dwell on it!"
每个人似乎都有一个很好的理由去讨厌法语语法中的这部分内容。事实上，我想我从来没有听一个学生说过“这是多么有趣的一个概念，让我们仔细讨论一下！”
But to be honest, I don't understand this lack of enthusiasm. Genders are something quirky (in a nice way) that makes French "cute". You can master it if you give it a good go. Even if you learn by trial and errors, if you are told off enough for saying "un table", one day it should make sense to try "une table".
但说实话，我不是很理解这种积极性的缺乏。正是词性这种有点古怪（褒义地想）的东西让法语变得如此“可爱”。如果你用心地学习它就可以掌握。甚至你在学习的过程中不断尝试不断出错，如果因为说了"un table"不断被人责备，那么总有一天试着说"une table"是有意义的。
Before going in the deep end, let's start by stating some facts:
在我们深入这个内容之前，让我们先来说一些实例：
Nouns and adjectives are either masculine or feminine. There are only two options (little mercy for that). There is no such thing as neutral ("it").
名词和形容词可以是阳性或是阴性的。这里只有两个选择（这点好可怜），没有什么词是中性的（“它”）。
There is no physical reason explaining why some words are "female" and others are "male", so don't look for clues in their shape or purpose.
没有什么物理原因可以解释为什么有些词是阴性、有些是阳性，所以不要期待在它们的形状和用途中找到线索。
Genders are either decided by the look or the sound of words. Only the last syllable matters.
Trying to learn lists containing 100+ rules is foolish so don't try so sort out all word endings. Common sense dictates concentrating on the most common endings. Pay attention to the words you use the most often.
No rule is 100% foolproof in French. There are a number of exceptions in word genders too. Those are a bit like double bluffs: it's unfair, I know, and I apologize from the bottom of my heart. You will need to learn by heart, I'm afraid.
在法语中没有什么规则是100％万无一失的。在单词词性中也有很多这样的例外。这些有点像双重陷阱：我知道，这是不公平的，我从心底里感到抱歉。但是，我恐怕要说你还是需要用心学习。
With experience, predicting genders with great accuracy is easy. It's just a case of spotting recurring themes. But if you are left you to your own device, this may take an age and I know you are eager to learn, so I've created a cheat sheet with 26 common endings, which I loosely paired up. I added many examples for each ending. When using this cheat sheet, read these lists of words out loud!
随着经验的积累，准确地预测词性将是件容易的事情。但是，如果你通过自己单枪匹马学习，可能需要一段时间，我知道你们是好学的，所以我创建了一个备忘单，列示了26种常见的结尾，并且大概地两两配对。我为每一种尾缀的情形都列举了大量的例子。当学习这个备忘单时，大声地朗读出列示的单词！
The aim is to hammer in the information using repetition. If you don't know the meaning of all these words yet, it's not a problem: you don't need to look them up at this point. You only need to focus on the article and the ending of a word.
By the way, if you’re cheekily thinking you’ll solve this issue by speaking a mangled article that could pass for either "un" or "une", think again! Refusing to learn and botching your pronunciation is the worst thing you could do at this point. Enunciate clearly "un" [Un] and "une" [u-nnnnuh]. Please note that I deliberately shied away from "le" and "la": for a start, they would make this exercise futile for all the words starting with a vowel.
顺便说一句，如果你厚脸皮地想你能够解决这个问题，只要在朗读时跳过"un" 或 "une"，这会让整篇文章显得支离破碎，再好好思考一下！在这个时点上，拒绝学习、破坏你的发音是最糟糕的事情。清晰地发音"un"为 [Un]， "une" 为[u-nnnnuh]。请注意，我故意避开"le" 和"la"：在学习初期，"le" 和"la"会使这个练习变得徒劳，因为所有的单词都以元音开头。
One more note before we go: if I write something with quotation marks like this: "ette", I refer to the actual spelling of the word ending. If I use the square brackets like this: [et], I refer to the way it's pronounced, using English letters (and the French letter è, which sound like the letter "e" in the word "merry" and "jet").
在我们继续下一步内容之前还有一点要说明：如果我写的单词用了引号，例如"ette" ，我指的是单词末尾实际的拼写。如果我用方括号，例如：[et], 我指的是它的发音方式，使用英文字母（法语字母è, 它的发音与单词"merry" 和 "jet"中的字母"e"相似） 。
Now, let's develop that instinct for words!
现在，让我们来探寻一下单词的 ！
1.以"et" 和 "ette"结尾的单词
Words ending in “et” sounds [è] with a silent “t” are masculine.
若单词以“et”结尾、发音为[è]、且 “t”不发音，则为阳性。
On the other hand are words ending in "ette" sounds [èt]. These words are unmistakably feminine. Don't be afraid of pronouncing the "t"now, it's actually essential in the feminine form!
·另一方面以"ette"结尾的单词发音为[èt]。这些单词都是确切无疑的阴性词。此时，不要害怕发"t"的音，这在阴性形式中是十分关键的！
Don't forget: Don't pronounce the final "t" in the masculine words, or they will sound odd.
牢记！阳性单词中最后一个"t"不发音，否则他们发音会很奇怪。
Un tabouret, un beignet, un déchet, un bleuet, un bidet, un cassoulet, un buffet, un chalet, un complet, un navet, un objet, un trajet, un volet
Une toilette, une crevette, une assiette, une fourchette, une serviette, une vinaigrette, une raquette, une tablette
2. “al” vs. “elle”
Words ending with the sound [al] (make them rhyme with "Al" and "pal", not with the word "all") are masculine.
词尾发音为[al]（使它们与"Al"、和"pal"押韵，而不是与"all"一词）的单词是阳性的。
The word ending "elle" is pronounced [el], so ignore the extra letters. It's feminine, always.
·以"elle"结尾的词的发音是[el]，请忽略额外的字母。这样的单词总是阴性的。
Un festival, un journal, un terminal, un tribunal, un canal
Une poubelle, la vaisselle, une chandelle, une hirondelle, une gazelle, une pelle, une voyelle
3. o vs. [ot]
Words finishing in "eau", "au", "o" or "ot" are all to be pronounced like an ordinary one syllable"o". There are masculine, but there are at least 2 big exceptions to this rule.
以"eau", "au", "o" 或 "ot"结尾的单词都发音，与单个音节发音"o"相似。他们大部分都是阳性的，但是这个规则中有两个例外。
Words in "otte" are not that common, but they are pronounced [ot]. Make sure you say that "t" in the feminine form.
·以"otte"结尾的单词并不常见，但它们发音都为[ot]。请保证在阴性词中"t"要发音。
Un cadeau, un château, un manteau, un tableau, un bateau, un morceau, un rideau, un râteau.
Un gigot, un abricot, un grelot, un canot, un mégot, un tricot, un bibelot
Exceptions : une eau et une peau
Une botte, une culotte, une mascotte, une cocotte, une roulotte
4. "ier" vs. "ière"
Pronounced "ier" like [ee-ay]. There is no "r" sound at all. It's masculine.
"ier"的发音像[ee-ay]。在这里"r"不发音。阳性词。
On the other hand, "ière" is pronounced [ee-yair] so roll that "r". It's feminine.
· 另一方面，"ière"的发音是[ee-yair]，"r"要发卷音。阴性词。
Un escalier, un glacier, un pommier, un palmier, un chandelier, un fermier, un panier, un soulier, un dentier, un clavier, un courrier
Une bière, une cafetière, une rivière, une poussière, une matière, une cuisinière
Exceptions : un cimetière, un derrière
5. "eur" vs. "euse"
Adjectives ending in "eur" are masculine. They usually end in "euse" in the feminine form.
以"eur"结尾的形容词是阳性的。在阴性形式中，他们通常以"euse"结尾。
Nouns work the same way, but there is a list of exceptions, which makes it trickier.
名词也是同理，但有一些例外，这使得它更为棘手。
Un aspirateur, un bonheur, un dépanneur, un vendeur, un serveur.
Exceptions : une couleur, une valeur, une longueur, une largeur.
Une vendeuse, une serveuse, une laveuse, une sécheuse, une souffleuse
6. "in" vs. "ine"
The English "in" sound is different from the French "in". If you say "in" in English, you are actually saying "ine" in French, which is feminine. Drag the "n" in the feminine form.
"in"在英语中的发音与在法语中的发音是不同的。如果你念英语中的"in"，你说的实际上是法语中的"ine"，"ine"是个阴性词。阴性形式下"n"发音要拖长。
The French "in" is masculine. It's very very short; don't drag that "n"!
· 法语中的"in"是阳性词。发音非常短促，"n"不要拖音！
Un vin, un pain, un matin, un sapin, un patin
Exception : une fin
Une vitamine, une toxine, une racine, une cabine, une tartine
7. "on" vs. "onne"
Just like "in", the English "on" is different from the French "on". If you say "on" in English, you are actually saying “onne” in French, which is feminine. Drag the "n" in the feminine form.
就像"in"一样，英语中的"on"也与法语中的"on"不同。如果你读英语中"on"，你实际上读的是法语中的“onne”，“onne” 是个阴性词。阴性形式下"n"发音要拖长。
The French "on" is masculine. It's very short. Don't drag that "n".
法语中的"on"是阳性词。发音非常短，"n"不要拖音！
Beware of (at least) 3 big exceptions!
请注意至少有三大例外！
Un garçon, un oignon, un savon, un avion, un camion, un lion, un poisson, un poison, un poivron, un saumon, un bouillon, un bouton
Exceptions : une maison, une leçon et une chanson
une personne, une tonne, une bonne, une consonne, une colonne
8. Words in "oir" and "oire"
Both endings have the same [war] sound. Here, we rely on spelling only. That extra "e" makes the whole difference.
这两个结尾都发音为[war]。在这里，我们只能依靠拼写。那个额外的“e”是最大的区别。
Words ending in “oir” are masculine, while words ending in “oire” are feminine.
以“oir”结尾的单词是阳性的，以“oire”结尾的单词为阴性。
Beware, there are some exceptions too.
当心，这也有一些例外。
Un miroir, un devoir, un tiroir, un trottoir, un comptoir, un couloir, un mouchoir, un manoir, un peignoir
Une histoire, une baignoire, une armoire, une bouilloire, une poire, une glissoire, une mâchoire, une passoire
Exceptions : un accessoire et un pourboire
9. "ur" vs. "ure"
There are not many words ending in "ur", but the few that exist are masculine.
法语中并没有太多单词是以"ur"结尾，但是那些仅存的少数为阳性词。
Words in "ure" are far more common. "ure" is pronounced the same ways as "ur" but that extra "e" makes it feminine.
· 以"ure"结尾的单词更为常见。"ure"的发音与 "ur"相同，但是"e"的存在使得单词为阴性词。
un mur,
un futur,
un fémur
une peinture, une couverture, une confiture, une sculpture, une clôture
Exception : un cyanure
10. "age" vs. "esse"
Here, I paired those words very loosely together. They are not really related. Just keep in mind that "age" (pronounced [ajuh]) is usually masculine and "esse" (pronounced [èss]) is feminine.
Un garage, un message, un bandage, un avantage, un potage
Exceptions :
une plage, une cage, une page
Une vitesse, une caresse, une faiblesse, une richesse,
une politesse, une tigresse, une sécheresse, une tresse, une altesse.
11. "il", "euil", "ail" and "ille"
I know you will find this a section challenging. I apologize in advance.
If you look at the spelling, it's rather easy: "il" = masculine. "ille"= feminine. The difficulty is in the pronunciation.
我知道你会觉得这一部分内容太挑战。我先提前道歉。如果你看一下拼写，其实很容易的："il" =阳性。"ille"=阴性。发音是难点。
Words finishing in "il" are masculine, but not all final "L"s are to be pronounced! See table below.
以"il" 结尾的单词是阳性的。但不是所有尾缀是“L”都要发音！请参阅下表。
Words finishing in "euil" are just a variant of "il". They are usually detested because they are "hard to say". There’s no reason for that, however. Think of "euil" as [UHYi], but make that last "i" as small as possible.
以"euil"结尾的单词只是"il"的一种变形。他们通常很让人讨厌，因为他们非常难发音。然而并没有原因解释这种情况。将"euil"读作[UHYi]，但最后的"i"发音时嘴巴张得尽可能小。
"ail" is another version of "il". It's also masculine. Pronounce it [a-yuh].
"ail"是"il"的另一种变形，他也是阳性的。发音为[a-yuh]。
"ille" is normally pronounced [ee-yuh] but there is a handful of exceptions where it's pronounced like a normal "il" [eel].
"ille"通常发音为[ee-yuh]，但这里有大量的例外，发音与正常的"il" [eel]相似。
"ouille" is pronounced [oo-yuh]
"ouille"发音为[oo-yuh]
"eille" is pronounced [è-yuh]
"eille"发音为[è-yuh]
L sound: un fil, un péril, le Brésil,
Silent L: un outil, un sourcil
UHYi: un écureuil, un chevreuil, un oeil, un deuil, un fauteuil,
A-YUH: un ail, un chandail
YUH: une fille, une famille, une cheville, une pupille, une chenille, une croustille, une jonquille
L sound: une ville
OO-YUH: une grenouille, une quenouille,
È-YUH: une oreille, une bouteille
12. [en] vs. [ens]
Words finishing in "ment" are usually masculine. It's pronounced with a short "n" and no "t".
以"ment"结尾的单词通常是阳性的。它的发音包含一个短音"n"，"t"不发音。
Words in "ance" are feminine. Pronounce it [ens]. I want to hear that "s"!
以"ance"结尾的单词是阴性的。发音为[ens]。我希望能听到"s"的发音！
Un gouvernement, un aliment, un vêtement, un ciment, un sentiment
Une connaissance, une vacance, une chance, une malchance, une croyance, une alliance
13. [k-] vs. [ik]
Words ending in "ic" are typically masculine. Pronounce it [ik].
以"ic"结尾的单词通常是阳性的。读音为[ik].
Words finishing in "que" (pronounced [kuh] or simply [k-]) are predominantly feminine but there are several exceptions.
以"que"结尾的单词（发音为[kuh]或简单的[k-]）大部分都是是阴性的，但也有些例外。
Un plastic, un diagnostic, un trafic, un arsenic, un basilic, un déclic, un syndic.
Une boutique, une banque, une bibliothèque, une remorque, une arabesque, une tique, une tunique, une tuque.
Exceptions : un antibiotique, un cirque, un disque, un kiosque.
Last tip for today:
今天的最后一个提醒
Hyphenated words, made up of a verb and a noun, are usually masculine.
由一个动词和一个名词组成的、带有连字符号的单词，通常是阳性的。
Un ouvre-bouteille (verb OUVRIR "to open")
un grille-pain (verb GRILLER "to grill")
un lave-vaisselle (verb LAVER "to wash")
un couvre-lit (verb COUVRIR "to cover")
un casse-noix (verb CASSER "to shatter")
un brise-glace (verb BRISER "to break")
Exception : une garde-robe (verbe GARDER "to keep")
The pièce de resistance
Here’s the bit that will make you want to scream.
下面部分的内容会让你想要尖叫。
Some words are both masculine and feminine. There are not many of those, but you have to admire them for craftiness because depending on the gender, the meaning of those words changes completely!
有些单词既是阳性又是阴性的。这一类的词语不是很多，但你不得不佩服他们的巧妙，因为根据词性，这些词的含义会完全改变！
Un mémoire = an essay
Une mémoire = memory
Un critique = a critic (person)
Une critique = a review / a criticism
Un mode = a mode / setting
Une mode = fashion / a trend
Un moule = a mold
Une moule = a mussel
Un livre = a book
Une livre = a pound (weight unit and British currency)
Un tour = a trick
Une tour = a tower
Un poste = a post / a position
La poste = mail
Now, let's be real. I know you didn't enjoy this (but if you did, please hit the *like* button at the top of the page). My goal was to make it a clearer and a bit more structured, and if possible, less repellent. I hope I did not let you down.
现在，让我们实际一点。我知道你们不喜欢这个部分（但如果你有，请猛击页面顶部的*like*按钮）。我的目标是使这部分内容更清晰、更具结构化，当然如果可能的话，少一点排斥性。我希望没有让你们失望。
Keep in mind that native French speakers make mistakes too. To pick only one example, I've heard "un orange" countless times (this fruit's "feminine", by the way). So getting it wrong is not the end of the world. Just do your best and keep trying!
请记住，母语说法语的人也会犯错。举个例子，我无数次听到"un orange"（顺便说一句，这种水果是“阴性”的）。所以，猜错了也不是世界末日。只要尽你最大的努力，不断地尝试！
For more on word genders, have a look at my other text, Gender Obsession in French: Chivalry or Burden.
Author's notes:
All the words used on this sheet are in the Larousse dictionary but some of them are used specifically in Québec (Canada), such as "un dépanneur", "une cocotte", "une laveuse", "une sécheuse", "un soulier", "une tuque", "une chandelle" and "une souffleuse". The word "un bleuet" is used in both countries but has a different meaning: In France, it's a cornflower; in Québec, it's a blueberry.
作者手记：
备忘表中所有的单词都可在Larousse词典中找到，但其中一些此是专门只在魁北克（加拿大）使用，例如"un dépanneur", "une cocotte", "une laveuse", "une sécheuse", "un soulier", "une tuque", "une chandelle" 和"une souffleuse"。单词"un bleuet"在发过、加拿大两个国家都有使用，但是含义不同。在法国，"un bleuet"指一朵矢车菊; 而在魁北克，它表示一个蓝莓。