Readings: シ (Onyomi), あぶら (Kunyomi)
Meaning: fat, grease, tallow
The radical 月 (niku-zuki, meaning “meat” or “flesh”) indicates a connection to the body or meat. The right part 旨 (shi/mune, meaning “delicious” or “essence”) acts as a phonetic component that also implies the “richest” or “best” part. Together, it refers to the fatty part of meat.
View JLPT N2 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 脂 has 10 strokes. Start by writing the radical 月 (niku-zuki) on the left side, which consists of four strokes. Then, move to the right component 旨 (shi), starting with the top horizontal stroke, followed by the vertical stroke, the two short horizontal strokes, the vertical line with a hook, and finally the bottom horizontal stroke.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 月 (にくづき) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 10 |
| JLPT Level | N2 |
| Grade | S |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- シ (Shi)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- あぶら (abura)
Common Words Using 脂
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 脂肪 | しぼう | fat (biological, in body/food) |
| 油脂 | ゆし | oils and fats |
| 脂質 | ししつ | lipids, fats (nutritional context) |
| 中性脂肪 | ちゅうせいしぼう | neutral fat, triglyceride |
| 皮脂 | ひし | sebum (skin oil) |
| 脱脂 | だっし | degreasing, defatting |
| 脂肪酸 | しぼうさん | fatty acid |
| 低脂肪 | ていしぼう | low-fat |
| 脂肪肝 | しぼうかん | fatty liver |
| 脂溶性 | しようせい | fat-soluble |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 脂 | あぶら | fat, grease, oil (general term) |
| 脂身 | あぶらみ | fatty meat |
| 脂汗 | あぶらあせ | cold sweat, oily sweat |
| 脂っこい | あぶらっこい | greasy, oily (food) |
| 脂ぎる | あぶらぎる | to become greasy/oily |
| 脂がのる | あぶらがのる | to become fatty (e.g., fish), to be in one’s prime |
| 脂を落とす | あぶらをおとす | to remove fat, to degrease |
| 脂を切る | あぶらをきる | to drain oil/fat |
| 脂焼け | あぶらやけ | oil stain (discoloration from oil) |
| 魚の脂 | さかなのあぶら | fish fat/oil |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 豚肉の脂身はとても美味しいです。
Kana: ぶたにくのあぶらみはとてもおいしいです。
Romaji: Butaniku no aburami wa totemo oishii desu.
English: The fatty part of pork is very delicious.
Japanese: この料理は脂質が少ないので健康的です。
Kana: このりょうりはししつがすくないのでけんこうてきです。
Romaji: Kono ryouri wa shishitsu ga sukunai node kenkouteki desu.
English: This dish is healthy because it is low in fat.
Japanese: 彼はストレスで脂汗をかいた。
Kana: かれはストレスであぶらあせをかいた。
Romaji: Kare wa sutoresu de aburaase o kaita.
English: He broke out in a cold sweat from stress.
Japanese: 健康のために脂肪の摂取量を減らしましょう。
Kana: けんこうのためにしぼうのせっしゅりょうをへらしましょう。
Romaji: Kenkou no tame ni shibou no sesshuryou o herashimashou.
English: Let’s reduce fat intake for our health.
Japanese: この魚はよく脂がのっていて美味しい。
Kana: このさかなはよくあぶらがのっていておいしい。
Romaji: Kono sakana wa yoku abura ga notte ite oishii.
English: This fish is nicely fatty and delicious.
Japanese: 揚げ物は脂っこいので、食べすぎないようにしましょう。
Kana: あげものはあぶらっこいので、たべすぎないようにしましょう。
Romaji: Agemono wa aburakkoi node, tabesuginai you ni shimashou.
English: Fried foods are greasy, so let’s not eat too much.
Japanese: 顔の皮脂が多いとニキビができやすい。
Kana: かおのひしがおおいとニキビができやすい。
Romaji: Kao no hishi ga ooi to nikibi ga dekiyasu i.
English: If you have a lot of sebum on your face, you are prone to acne.
Japanese: 肉の脂をきれいに取り除いてください。
Kana: にくのあぶらをきれいにとりのぞいてください。
Romaji: Niku no abura o kirei ni torinozoite kudasai.
English: Please remove the fat from the meat cleanly.
Japanese: 脱脂粉乳は牛乳から脂肪を取り除いたものです。
Kana: だっしふんにゅうはぎゅうにゅうからしぼうをとりだしたものです。
Romaji: Dasshifunnyuu wa gyuunyuu kara shibou o torinozoita mono desu.
English: Skim milk is milk from which fat has been removed.
Japanese: 最近、彼の髪が脂ぎっているように見える。
Kana: さいきん、かれのかみがしらぎっているようにみえる。
Romaji: Saikin, kare no kami ga aburagitte iru you ni mieru.
English: Recently, his hair seems greasy.
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