鶏(にわとり)

にわとり
noun
chicken; rooster; hen
1. chicken; rooster; hen
A domestic bird raised for eggs and meat.
鶏(にわとり)が「コケコッコー」と鳴(な)く。
The rooster crows 'cock-a-doodle-doo.'
鶏(にわとり)が卵(たまご)を産(う)んだ。
The chicken laid an egg.
鶏(にわとり)を飼(か)っている。
I keep chickens.
朝(あさ)早(はや)く鶏(にわとり)の鳴(な)き声(ごえ)で目(め)が覚(さ)めた。
I was woken up early in the morning by the crowing of a rooster.
庭(にわ)で鶏(にわとり)を飼(か)って、毎朝(まいあさ)新鮮(しんせん)な卵(たまご)を食(た)べている。
I keep chickens in the yard and eat fresh eggs every morning.

鶏(にわとり) refers to the domestic chicken as a living bird. When referring to chicken as food, 鶏肉(とりにく) or simply 鶏(とり) is used instead.

SPECIFIC TERMS:

  • 雄鶏(おんどり): rooster
  • 雌鶏(めんどり): hen
  • ひよこ: chick

AS FOOD (鶏(とり)):

  • 鶏肉(とりにく): chicken meat
  • 鶏(とり)もも肉(にく): chicken thigh
  • 鶏(とり)むね肉(にく): chicken breast
  • 焼(や)き鳥(とり): grilled chicken skewers

ONOMATOPOEIA:

  • コケコッコー: rooster crow
  • コッコッ: hen clucking

KANJI NOTE:
The kanji 鶏(にわとり) can also be read as とり when used for food. The word 鳥(とり) (bird) uses a different kanji.

Related Words

Related: 鶏肉(とりにく) (chicken meat)
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Added 2026.1.16 12:26 · Revised 2026.4.4 11:26
05000/05202_niwatori