🇯🇵 How to say

“chicken” in Japanese

鶏にわとり
Illustration of "chicken" in a Japanese cultural setting
A plump brown chicken pecks at scattered grains in a sunlit farmyard, its red comb bobbing as it moves. Two fluffy yellow chicks follow closely behind, chirping softly.

Usage note

にわとり refers to a live chicken, not the meat (which is チキン or 鶏肉). It’s often associated with farms and traditional settings in Japan, and it's common to see them in rural areas or at shrines during the Year of the Rooster.

Examples

  • にわとりがたまごをうみます。

    The chicken lays eggs.

  • にわとりはにわにいます。

    The chicken is in the yard.

  • あのにわとりはおおきいです。

    That chicken is big.

Quick check

What does "鶏" mean?

  • A. chicken
  • B. cow
  • C. frog
  • D. body

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