(あぶら)

あぶら
noun
fat, grease, oil (animal)
See also: (あぶら) (oil (油))
1. fat, grease
Animal fat or body oil.
To remove the fat from the meat.
(あぶら)のった(さかな)
A fish with good fat content.
Desirable quality
To wipe the oil off one's face.
2. oiliness, greasiness
The quality of being oily or greasy.
(あぶら)っこい料理(りょうり)
Greasy food.
この(にく)(あぶら)(おお)
This meat has a lot of fat.
In summer, the oiliness on my face bothers me.

(あぶら) refers specifically to animal fat and body oil, as opposed to (あぶら) which covers vegetable oil and petroleum products.

KANJI DISTINCTION:

  • (あぶら): animal fat, body oil (solid at room temperature)
  • (あぶら): oil from plants or petroleum (liquid at room temperature)

Both are read あぶら, but the kanji reflects the source.

COMMON PATTERNS:

  • (あぶら)がのる: to be fatty/well-marbled (desirable for fish and meat)
  • (あぶら)っこい: greasy, oily (often negative)
  • (かお)(あぶら): facial oil/sebum

COMMON COMPOUNDS:

  • 皮脂(ひし): sebum (skin oil)
  • 脂身(あぶらみ): fatty meat
  • 脂肪(しぼう): fat (scientific/medical term)