Translation guide
A breaded and fried chicken fillet, similar to a schnitzel. In Japanese, it is most commonly referred to as チキンカツ, but other terms exist depending on context.
The learner wants to refer to a breaded, deep-fried chicken cutlet, typically served with tonkatsu sauce or as part of a meal.
The most common and direct translation. It is a loanword from English and widely understood in Japan. Used in restaurants, home cooking, and bento boxes.
I'll have the chicken cutlet set meal for lunch today.
I bought some chicken cutlets at the supermarket.
Uses the native Japanese word for chicken (鶏) instead of the loanword. Slightly less common than チキンカツ but still natural. Often seen on menus.
The chicken cutlet at this restaurant is crispy and delicious.
Literally 'young chicken cutlet'. Sometimes used on menus to emphasize tenderness. Not common in everyday speech.
How about a young chicken cutlet?
The learner wants to refer to a chicken cutlet in a more Western culinary context, possibly using a term derived from 'cutlet' or 'côtelette'.
A more direct loan from 'chicken cutlet'. It can sound slightly more formal or Western-style than チキンカツ. Used in some restaurants or recipes.
I squeeze lemon on my chicken cutlet and eat it.
Literally 'chicken meat cutlet'. A descriptive phrase that might appear in recipes or formal menus.
The learner wants to refer specifically to a German-style schnitzel made with chicken.
A direct loan from English 'chicken schnitzel'. Used in German restaurants or when specifically referring to the German dish. Not common in everyday Japanese.
I ordered chicken schnitzel at a German restaurant.
チキンカツ is a breaded and deep-fried fillet, similar to tonkatsu but with chicken. 鶏の唐揚げ (とりのからあげ) is Japanese-style fried chicken, usually marinated, coated in potato starch or flour, and deep-fried. They are different dishes.
Chicken cutlet is coated in breadcrumbs and fried, while karaage uses potato starch.
When ordering at a restaurant, you can simply say 「チキンカツください」 (Chicken cutlet, please) or 「チキンカツ定食をください」 (Chicken cutlet set meal, please). Many set meals come with rice, miso soup, and shredded cabbage.
Pound the chicken cutlet thin and fry it.