脂肪

• Reading: しぼう
• Romaji: shibou
• Kanji breakdown: 脂 (shi/abura) — fat, grease; 肪 (bou) — fat, obese
• Pronunciation: /ɕi.boː/

Meaning

Fat; grease; body fat. The oily substance stored in animal tissue.

A noun used in both everyday and scientific contexts for fat. Common compounds: 体脂肪 (taishibou, body fat), 脂肪分 (shibou-bun, fat content), 皮下脂肪 (hika shibou, subcutaneous fat). Often appears in health and nutrition discussions. Distinct from 油 (abura, oil/cooking fat) which refers more to liquid fats and oils.

Examples

1. 体脂肪を減らすために毎日運動している。 I exercise every day to reduce my body fat.
2. この食品は脂肪が少なくてヘルシーだ。 This food is low in fat and healthy.
3. 肉の脂肪の部分が苦手な人も多い。 A lot of people don't like the fatty parts of meat.

Usage Guide

Context: health, nutrition, cooking

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 脂 (fat/grease, with the flesh radical 月) and 肪 (fat layer around organs, also with 月). Both kanji relate to bodily fat tissue.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal