1.
fat, grease
Animal fat or body oil.
脂 refers specifically to animal fat and body oil, as opposed to 油 which covers vegetable oil and petroleum products.
KANJI DISTINCTION:
- 脂: animal fat, body oil (solid at room temperature)
- 油: oil from plants or petroleum (liquid at room temperature)
Both are read あぶら, but the kanji reflects the source.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 脂がのる: to be fatty/well-marbled (desirable for fish and meat)
- 脂っこい: greasy, oily (often negative)
- 顔の脂: facial oil/sebum
COMMON COMPOUNDS:
- 皮脂: sebum (skin oil)
- 脂身: fatty meat
- 脂肪: fat (scientific/medical term)