Translation guide
In Japanese, 'deep-fried chicken' can refer to several distinct dishes. The most common is karaage, but other styles like tatsutaage and Western-style fried chicken also exist. This guide helps you choose the right term based on preparation and context.
The most common Japanese deep-fried chicken, marinated and coated in potato starch or flour, often served as a side dish or in bento.
The standard term for Japanese-style fried chicken. Usually bite-sized pieces marinated in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, then coated with potato starch or flour and deep-fried.
今夜は唐揚げを作ります。
I'll make karaage tonight.
この唐揚げはとてもジューシーです。
This karaage is very juicy.
Explicitly says 'chicken karaage'. Useful when you need to distinguish from other karaage (e.g., fish).
鶏の唐揚げ定食をください。
I'll have the chicken karaage set meal.
A specific type of karaage where chicken is marinated and coated with katakuriko (potato starch) only, giving a lighter, crispier texture.
A variation of karaage using only potato starch for coating. Often associated with a more delicate, crispy crust. Sometimes written as 立田揚げ.
竜田揚げは外がサクサクで中は柔らかいです。
Tatsuta-age is crispy on the outside and tender inside.
American-style fried chicken with a thick, seasoned flour coating, often on the bone.
The loanword for Western-style fried chicken, like KFC. Typically refers to chicken pieces with a thick, crispy flour coating.
週末にフライドチキンを食べました。
I ate fried chicken on the weekend.
Small, boneless pieces of chicken, often processed, with a uniform coating.
Refers specifically to chicken nuggets, like those from fast-food chains.
子供はチキンナゲットが大好きです。
Kids love chicken nuggets.
Karaage (唐揚げ) is Japanese-style, usually marinated and coated with potato starch or flour, resulting in a thinner, lighter crust. Western-style fried chicken (フライドチキン) has a thicker, seasoned flour coating and is often eaten on the bone. If you say 'fried chicken' in English, Japanese people may think of KFC-style, not karaage.
唐揚げとフライドチキンは違います。
Karaage and fried chicken are different.
If you want Japanese-style fried chicken, ask for 'karaage'. If you want Western-style, say 'furaido chikin'. Many izakaya and teishoku-ya serve karaage as a standard item.