鳥(とり)

とり

noun

bird

1. bird

A warm-blooded vertebrate with feathers and wings. Also used as a general term for poultry.

鳥(とり)が飛(と)んでいます。

A bird is flying.

小(ちい)さい鳥(とり)がいますね。

There's a small bird, isn't there?

木(き)の上(うえ)に鳥(とり)がいます。

There's a bird in the tree.

朝(あさ)、窓(まど)の外(そと)に鳥(とり)が来(き)ていました。

In the morning, a bird had come outside the window.

この公園(こうえん)にはいろいろな鳥(とり)がいて、見(み)ていて楽(たの)しいです。

There are various birds in this park, and it's fun to watch them.

2. chicken, poultry (meat)

In food contexts, often refers to chicken meat.

鳥(とり)を食(た)べますか。

Do you eat chicken?

Refers to chicken meat

今日(きょう)の晩(ばん)ごはんは鳥(とり)です。

Tonight's dinner is chicken.

焼(や)き鳥(とり)を五(ご)本(ほん)ください。

Five grilled chicken skewers, please.

鳥(とり)は魚(さかな)より安(やす)いので、よく買(か)います。

Chicken is cheaper than fish, so I often buy it.

この店(みせ)の鳥(とり)はとても美味(おい)しいので、いつも買(か)いに来(き)ます。

This restaurant's chicken is very delicious, so I always come to buy it.

鳥(とり) is the general word for "bird" but in food contexts it often specifically means chicken meat.

Dual meaning

As an animal: 鳥(とり)が飛(と)んでいる (a bird is flying)
As food: 鳥(とり)を食(た)べる (to eat chicken)

For the live animal "chicken" specifically, 鶏(にわとり) is used.

Compounds

焼(や)き鳥(とり): grilled chicken skewers
鶏肉(とりにく): chicken meat
小鳥(ことり): small bird
渡(わた)り鳥(どり): migratory bird
野鳥(やちょう): wild bird

Counting patterns

Birds are counted with 羽(わ) (一羽(いちわ)、二羽(にわ)、三羽(さんば)/三羽(さんわ)).

Related Words

Related: 鶏(にわとり) (chicken (the live bird))

Related: 鶏肉(とりにく) (chicken meat)

Related: 小鳥(ことり) (small bird)

Related: 焼(や)き鳥(とり) (grilled chicken skewers)

basic

Added 2026.1.7 21:06 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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