pod / casing / sleeve
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pod
The protective, usually elongated covering around the seeds of certain plants, especially legumes such as peas or beans.
Für das Gericht müssen die Erbsen zuerst aus den Hülsen gelöst werden.
For the dish, the peas first have to be removed from the pods.
casing
The metal part of a cartridge that contains the gunpowder and is ejected after a firearm is fired.
Die Polizei fand am Tatort mehrere leere Hülsen.
The police found several empty casings at the crime scene.
empty shell
In a figurative sense, often as 'leere Hülse' (empty shell), it refers to something that no longer has any content, meaning, or substance.
Ohne konkrete Maßnahmen ist das Versprechen nur eine leere Hülse.
Without concrete measures, the promise is just an empty shell.
sleeve
A cylindrical component in engineering that serves as a casing, guide, or connecting element.
Der Mechaniker musste eine neue Hülse in das Lager einsetzen.
The mechanic had to insert a new sleeve into the bearing.
You can almost always recognize the meaning of 'Hülse' from the context. If you are talking about food and plants, it means the shell or pod of vegetables. If it is about weapons or crime, it means a cartridge casing. In discussions about politics or ideas, the figurative meaning may occur.
Die Kinder sammelten die leeren Hülsen auf dem Schießstand.
The children collected the empty casings at the shooting range.
In a botanical context, 'Hülse' (pod) is often used with legumes such as 'Erbsen' (peas) or 'Bohnen' (beans). Typical verbs are 'aus der Hülse pulen' (to shell/pick out of the pod), 'schälen' (to peel/shell), or 'entfernen' (to remove).
Frische Bohnen schmecken am besten direkt aus der Hülse.
Fresh beans taste best straight from the pod.
This meaning is specific to the context of firearms. Typical adjectives are 'leer' (empty) or 'golden' (gold-colored). People often 'finden' (find) or 'sammeln' (collect) casings, usually after a shot.
Der Kommissar untersuchte die am Boden liegende Hülse.
The inspector examined the casing lying on the ground.
The figurative meaning is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'eine leere Hülse' (an empty shell). It is used to criticize the fact that a word, plan, or promise has no real content or value.
Seine Entschuldigung war nur eine leere Hülse, er meinte es nicht ernst.
His apology was just an empty shell; he did not mean it seriously.
This meaning of 'Hülse' (sleeve) as a component is a technical term from engineering and mechanical engineering. You will rarely hear this use in everyday life unless you work in a technical profession.
Wir brauchen eine passende Hülse, um die beiden Rohre zu verbinden.
We need a suitable sleeve to connect the two pipes.
cover / shell
Hülle is the general term for a protective outer layer. Hülse more specifically refers, for certain plants, to the usually elongated shell in which the seeds lie. Hülle is suitable for the outer layer of an individual seed; with peas or beans, the entire elongated part is called a Hülse (pod).
In der grünen Hülse liegen mehrere Bohnensamen.
Several bean seeds are inside the green pod.
Eine dünne Hülle schützt den einzelnen Bohnensamen.
A thin covering protects the individual bean seed.
