Translation and Meaning of: 肉 - niku
On this page, we will study the meaning of the Japanese word 肉 (niku) and its translation into English. Let's see their different meanings, example phrases, explanations, etymology and the similar words.
Romaji: niku
Kana: にく
Type: noun
L: jlpt-n5
Translation / Meaning: meat
Meaning in English: meat
Definition: A general term for muscles and organs obtained from animals or humans.
Table of Content
- Etymology
- Writing
- Synonyms
- Example Phrases
Explanation and Etymology - (肉) niku
The Japanese word 「肉」, read as "niku", is a term that primarily refers to meat. Within the kanji, the composition is quite revealing: the kanji 「肉」 has a shape that resembles meat, essentially capturing the visual concept of what the written form represents. The origin of the kanji dates back to ancient pictographic representations in China, where the symbol was used to denote body parts or meat, reflecting the importance of this food in the diet of those cultures.
When we talk about "niku" in a broader context, we are referring not only to meat of animal origin but also exploring a vital part of Japanese culture and cuisine. For centuries, the word has evolved to refer to different types of meat, including beef, pork, and chicken, each with its own specific name, although all are generally categorized as 「肉」. In Japan, famous dishes such as sukiyaki, yakiniku, and shabu-shabu showcase the versatility and importance of meat in local cuisine.
Moreover, the term "niku" is widely used in various expressions and combinations of words in Japanese. For example, 「牛肉」 (gyuuniku) refers to beef, while 「豚肉」 (butaniku) means pork. This flexible use allows "niku" to form a broad vocabulary, being essential in describing ingredients of Japanese cuisine and in everyday shopping at markets. Although "niku" is a simple word, it carries a significant cultural and historical weight, which is reflected in the importance of meat in culinary traditions and Japanese society.
How to Write in Japanese - (肉) niku
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese (肉) niku:
Synonyms and similar words
There are different ways of expressing the idea of "A general term for muscles and organs obtained from animals or humans." in the Japanese language.
A way of saying "meat" é "(肉) niku".
Below is a list of Japanese words that have the same meaning or are a variation of the word. "(肉) niku":
- 肉体 (nikutai) - Physical body
- 肉片 (nikuhen) - Slices of meat
- 肉類 (nikurui) - Types of meat
- 肉塊 (nikukai) - Pieces of meat
- 肉片状 (nikuhenjou) - In the form of meat slices
- 肉片状のもの (nikuhenjou no mono) - Objects in the shape of meat slices
- 肉片状の食品 (nikuhenjou no shokuhin) - Foods in the form of sliced meat
- 肉塊状のもの (nikukaisou no mono) - Objects in the shape of pieces of meat
- 肉塊状の食品 (nikukaisou no shokuhin) - Foods in the form of pieces of meat
- 肉片状に切ったもの (nikuhenjou ni kitta mono) - Things cut into slices of meat
- 肉片状に切った食品 (nikuhenjou ni kitta shokuhin) - Sliced meat foods
- 肉塊状に切ったもの (nikukaisou ni kitta mono) - Things cut into pieces of meat
- 肉塊状に切った食品 (nikukaisou ni kitta shokuhin) - Cut foods into pieces of meat
Words related to: 肉
See also other related words from our dictionary:
Kana: ひにく
Romaji: hiniku
Meaning:
cynicism; sarcasm
Kana: にくしん
Romaji: nikushin
Meaning:
Blood relationship; blood report
Kana: にくたい
Romaji: nikutai
Meaning:
the body; the meat
Kana: きんにく
Romaji: kinniku
Meaning:
muscle; tendon
Kana: セックス
Romaji: sekusu
Meaning:
sexual relations
Kana: み
Romaji: mi
Meaning:
body; main part; To yourself; sword
Kana: ふろしき
Romaji: furoshiki
Meaning:
cloth wrapping; cloth packaging
Kana: はら
Romaji: hara
Meaning:
abdomen; stomach; stomach
Kana: はだ
Romaji: hada
Meaning:
skin; body; grain; texture; disposition
Kana: は
Romaji: ha
Meaning:
tooth
Words with the same pronunciation: にく niku
Example Sentences - (肉) niku
Below are some example sentences:
牛肉が好きです。
Gyuuniku ga suki desu
I like cow meat.
I like beef.
- 牛肉 - beef
- が - subject particle
- 好き - like
- です - verb ser/estar in the present
炙った肉は美味しかったです。
Aburutta niku wa oishikatta desu
The meat that was grilled was delicious.
The roasted meat was delicious.
- 炙った (aburatta) - grilled
- 肉 (niku) - noun that means "meat"
- は (wa) - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 美味しかった (oishikatta) - verb in the past meaning "it was delicious"
- です (desu) - auxiliary verb indicating the formality of the sentence
弱肉強食
jakuniku kyoushoku
The strong devour the weak or "the law of the jungle."
Weak and meat -like food
- 弱肉 - weak meat
- 強食 - to eat heartily
フォークで肉を切りました。
Fōku de niku wo kirimashita
I cut the meat with a fork.
I cut the meat with a fork.
- フォーク (fōku) - fork
- で (de) - with
- 肉 (niku) - meat
- を (wo) - direct object
- 切りました (kirimashita) - cut
柔らかい肉は美味しいです。
Yawarakai niku wa oishii desu
Tender meat is delicious.
- 柔らかい - adjective that means "soft" or "smooth"
- 肉 - noun that means "meat"
- は - particle that indicates the topic of the sentence
- 美味しい - adjective that means "delicious" or "tasty"
- です - linking verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence
筋肉が弛むとリラックスできる。
Kin'niku ga yurumu to rirakkusu dekiru
You can relax when your muscles are loose.
- 筋肉 (kin'niku) - muscle
- が (ga) - subject particle
- 弛む (yurumu) - relax, loosen
- と (to) - conditional particle
- リラックス (rirakkusu) - to relax
- できる (dekiru) - to be able to, can
筋肉が大切です。
Kin'niku ga taisetsu desu
The muscles are important.
- 筋肉 (kin'niku) - muscle
- が (ga) - subject particle
- 大切 (taisetsu) - important, valuable
- です (desu) - verb "to be" in the present tense
肉体は健康の鍵です。
Nikutai wa kenkou no kagi desu
The body is the key to health.
- 肉体 - physical body
- は - topic particle
- 健康 - health
- の - possessive particle
- 鍵 - key
- です - verb ser/estar in the present
肉が大好きです。
Niku ga daisuki desu
I love meat.
- 肉 - means "meat" in Japanese
- が - grammatical particle that indicates the subject of the sentence
- 大好き - means "to like very much" or "to love" in Japanese
- です - A polite way to say "is" or "are" in Japanese.
Other words of the same type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
