Translation guide
In English, 'white meat' typically refers to poultry or sometimes pork, contrasted with red meat. In Japanese, the concept is expressed differently depending on context: for poultry, it's often 鶏肉 (chicken) or 白身 (white flesh of fish/chicken); for pork, it's sometimes called 白肉 but this is less common. The most natural translation depends on whether you're talking about meat in general, ordering food, or discussing nutrition.
Referring to chicken or turkey meat, especially in contrast to red meat like beef or pork.
The standard word for chicken meat. Use this when you want to specify chicken as opposed to other meats.
Let's have chicken for dinner tonight.
Literally 'white flesh', used for both fish and chicken breast meat. In context, it can mean white meat of chicken, but it's ambiguous without context.
Specifically chicken tenderloin, a very lean white meat cut. Used in cooking and menus.
Chicken tenderloin is low-fat and healthy.
Referring to pork as a white meat, often in marketing or nutritional contexts.
The standard word for pork. In Japanese, pork is not typically categorized as white meat, but if you need to translate the phrase 'pork, the other white meat', you would use 豚肉 and explain the concept.
Pork was advertised as 'the other white meat'.
Literally 'white meat', but this term is rarely used in everyday Japanese. It might appear in translated materials or specific dietary contexts. Not recommended for general use.
白肉 is not a common word in Japanese; it may sound like a direct translation. Use 豚肉 or 鶏肉 instead.
Referring to white-fleshed fish, such as cod, sea bass, or flounder, often in sushi or cooking.
Directly translating 'white meat' as 白い肉 (shiroi niku) is unnatural. Use the specific meat name or 白身/白身魚 depending on context.
I want to eat white meat. (unnatural)
In Japanese, meat is not commonly divided into 'white' and 'red' as in English. Instead, specific animal names are used. For fish, 白身 (shiromi) and 赤身 (akami) are standard. For meat, 鶏肉 (chicken), 豚肉 (pork), 牛肉 (beef) are used.
Meat is not divided into white and red.
This sushi has white fish.
鶏の白身はさっぱりしている。
Chicken white meat is light in flavor.
白肉はあまり一般的な言葉ではありません。
The word 'white meat' is not very common.
寿司ネタで白身が好きです。
I like white fish sushi toppings.