鶏
Meanings
1
chicken; domestic chicken
Refers to the live bird Gallus gallus domesticus.
We keep chickens in the yard.
The chicken laid an egg.
2
Refers to chicken as food. Often used in compounds like 鶏肉, but can stand alone in contexts like menus or cooking.
See also: 鶏肉
Let's have fried chicken tonight.
This dish uses chicken.
Usage patterns
- 鶏を飼うto raise/keep chickens
My grandmother's house keeps chickens.
- 鶏が鳴くfor a chicken/rooster to crow
I woke up early to the crowing of a rooster.
- 鶏を絞めるto slaughter a chicken
In the old days, people often slaughtered their own chickens to eat.
- 鶏の唐揚げfried chicken (as a dish)
I plan to make fried chicken tonight.