Translation guide
In Japanese, the word for 'animal fat' depends on the type of fat, its source, and whether it is raw, rendered, or used in cooking. The most common general term is 動物性脂肪, but in everyday contexts, more specific words like 脂 (for fat in meat or cooking) or ラード (lard) are used.
Referring to animal fat as a category, often in dietary or scientific contexts.
The standard term for animal fat, used in nutrition and food labeling. Contrasts with 植物性脂肪 (vegetable fat).
Be careful not to consume too much animal fat.
A slightly more technical or abbreviated term, also meaning animal fat. Often used in industrial or chemical contexts.
This soap is made from vegetable and animal fats.
Referring to the fatty parts of meat, such as on beef, pork, or chicken.
The fatty part of meat, often contrasted with lean meat (赤身). Can be used for any animal.
This meat has a lot of fat on it.
General word for fat (body fat or dietary fat). Can refer to animal fat in meat, but is broader and more formal than 脂身.
Referring to animal fat that has been rendered and is used as a cooking fat.
Lard, specifically rendered pork fat. Commonly used in Japanese cooking and baking.
Stir-frying with lard makes it fragrant.
Beef tallow, rendered beef fat. Used in some traditional dishes like gyudon or curry.
Generic word for fat or oil. Can refer to animal fat in cooking, but context is needed to distinguish from vegetable oil.
Referring to fat trimmed off meat or leftover grease.
Commonly used for waste fat or grease. Can be specified as 肉の脂 (meat fat) or 動物の脂 (animal fat).
Don't throw away this fat; you can use it to make soap.
Waste oil/fat, often used in industrial or environmental contexts. Can include animal fat but is not specific to it.
脂 (あぶら) is the everyday word for fat or grease, used for both animal and vegetable fats in cooking and on meat. 脂肪 (しぼう) is more formal and often refers to body fat or nutritional fat. In daily conversation, 脂 is more common for visible fat on meat or in pans.
This meat is fatty.
Reduce fat intake.
Both are read あぶら, but 脂 usually refers to solid animal fat, while 油 refers to liquid oil (vegetable or mineral). However, in practice, 油 is often used as a generic term for all oils and fats in cooking contexts. For animal fat specifically, 脂 is more precise.
Please trim off the fat.
The fat on beef is delicious.
Gyudon restaurants sometimes use beef tallow.
There's fat left in the pot.
Recycling of animal waste fat is advancing.