This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

B1 noun #4,000 most common 7 min read

脂肪

Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 脂肪 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 脂肪 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 脂肪 (shibō) means 'fat'. You might see it on a food label or hear it in a simple sentence about health. It is a noun. You don't need to worry about complex grammar yet. Just remember that it sounds like 'she-bo'. For example, if you see '0% 脂肪' on a yogurt container, it means 'zero fat'. At this stage, you are most likely to use it when talking about food you like or dislike, or very basic body parts. It is a useful word to recognize when shopping for groceries in Japan so you can choose healthy options. Focus on the sound and the basic meaning: fat as a thing in food or on a body.

At the A2 level, you can start using 脂肪 (shibō) in simple sentences with basic verbs. You should learn the phrase 脂肪が多い (shibō ga ooi) meaning 'there is a lot of fat' and 脂肪が少ない (shibō ga sukunai) meaning 'there is little fat'. You might use these to describe meat at a restaurant or a type of milk. You should also be aware that Japanese people are very health-conscious, so you might hear friends talk about wanting to reduce fat. You can say 脂肪を減らしたいです (shibō o herashitai desu)—'I want to reduce fat'. This level is about connecting the noun to simple adjectives and desires.

At the B1 level, you should understand the nuance of 脂肪 as a biological term compared to 'abura'. You should be able to talk about health and fitness using more specific verbs like 燃焼する (nenshō suru - to burn) and つく (tsuku - to attach/gain). You will encounter this word in news articles about health trends or in gym settings. You should also learn common compounds like 体脂肪 (taishibō - body fat) and 体脂肪率 (taishibō-ritsu - body fat percentage). This is the level where you start using the word to discuss lifestyle choices and medical results. You should also be careful not to confuse it with the homophone 'death' (死亡).

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 脂肪 in technical and abstract discussions. You can distinguish between 皮下脂肪 (hika-shibō - subcutaneous fat) and 内臓脂肪 (naizō-shibō - visceral fat). You can understand health documentaries or detailed nutritional advice. You should know that 脂肪 is often used in the context of 'Metabo' (metabolic syndrome) in Japan. You can use the word to describe chemical processes, such as how the body converts carbohydrates into fat. You should also be able to use the word in formal writing, such as a report on public health or a blog post about a new diet regimen, using appropriate formal particles and structures.

At the C1 level, you use 脂肪 with professional precision. You understand its role in complex physiological terms like 脂肪酸組成 (shibō-san sosei - fatty acid composition) or 脂肪組織 (shibō soshiki - adipose tissue). You can participate in high-level debates about food policy, the 'Metabo Law', and the social implications of health standards in Japan. You are aware of the subtle registers where 脂肪 might be replaced by 脂質 for scientific accuracy or 贅肉 (zeiniku) for social commentary. You can read medical journals or government health white papers that use 脂肪 as a key metric for national health statistics.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of 脂肪 in all its forms. You can discuss the biochemical pathways of lipid metabolism using the word 脂肪 and its derivatives fluently. You understand the historical evolution of the word and how it has shifted from a neutral biological term to a highly charged social term in modern Japan. You can interpret the nuance in literature where 脂肪 might be used metaphorically to describe excess, lethargy, or the 'fat of the land'. You are also fully aware of the legal and regulatory frameworks in Japan that define 脂肪 levels for commercial food labeling and health insurance premiums.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

脂肪 in 30 Seconds

Shibō (脂肪) is the specific Japanese noun for biological fat, used for body composition and nutritional content in food.
It is distinct from 'abura' (oil/rendered fat) which is used for cooking or greasy surfaces.
Commonly paired with verbs like 'tsuku' (to gain) and 'nenshō suru' (to burn) in health and fitness contexts.
A vital word for understanding Japanese health culture, medical check-ups, and food labeling.

The Japanese word 脂肪 (しぼう - shibō) is a technical and biological term primarily used to refer to 'fat' in the context of nutrients, body composition, and medical science. While English uses the word 'fat' for everything from the marbling on a steak to the oil in a pan or the tissue on a body, Japanese is more specific. 脂肪 specifically denotes the biological substance. If you are talking about the fat content in milk, the body fat percentage measured at a gym, or the lipids studied in a biology classroom, this is the word you will encounter. It is composed of two kanji: 脂 (fat/lard) and 肪 (obese/thick), creating a heavy emphasis on the physical substance of adipose tissue.

Biological Context: In a medical or health context, you will often hear terms like 体脂肪 (taishibō) meaning body fat, or 内臓脂肪 (naizō-shibō) meaning visceral fat. Japanese health culture is particularly focused on 'Metabo' (metabolic syndrome), and 脂肪 is the central keyword in these discussions.
Nutritional Context: When looking at food labels in Japan, you might see 脂肪 or the more technical 脂質 (shishitsu) which means 'lipids'. However, in everyday conversation about health, people will say things like 'this food has a lot of fat' using 脂肪.

最近、お腹の脂肪が気になります。 (Recently, I am worried about the fat on my stomach.)

A common phrase used in fitness and health contexts.

It is important to distinguish 脂肪 from its homophone 死亡 (shibō), which means 'death'. While they sound identical, the context usually makes the meaning clear, but in writing, the kanji are entirely different. In Japanese society, there is a strong emphasis on maintaining a low body fat percentage, partly due to the 'Metabo Law' which requires companies to measure the waistlines of employees. Consequently, 脂肪 is a word frequently heard in commercials for 'Tokuhō' (Food for Specified Health Uses) teas and supplements that claim to help burn body fat.

この牛乳は脂肪分がゼロです。 (This milk has zero fat content.)

Using 脂肪 correctly requires understanding the verbs that typically accompany it. Unlike general nouns, biological fat in Japanese 'attaches' to you, 'burns' away, or is 'stored'. The most common verb used with body fat is つく (tsuku), meaning 'to attach' or 'to gain'. If you say 脂肪がついた (shibō ga tsuita), it literally means 'fat has attached [to my body]', which is the standard way to say you've gained fat.

Burning Fat: The verb 燃焼する (nenshō suru) is used for 'burning'. You will see 脂肪燃焼 (shibō nenshō) on treadmill screens at the gym or on the labels of health drinks. This is a formal, scientific-sounding compound.
Reducing Fat: To reduce fat, you use 減らす (herasu) or 落とす (otosu). 脂肪を落とす (shibō o otosu) literally means 'to drop fat', which is a very common way to describe losing weight through exercise.

有酸素運動は、脂肪を燃焼させるのに効果的です。 (Aerobic exercise is effective for burning fat.)

In a medical context, doctors might talk about 皮下脂肪 (hika-shibō)—subcutaneous fat—which is the fat you can pinch under your skin. This is contrasted with 内臓脂肪 (naizō-shibō)—visceral fat—which is the fat around your organs. Japanese health checkups (Ningen Dock) often provide a specific breakdown of these two types using the word 脂肪. When describing food, you might use the suffix 分 (bun) to create 脂肪分 (shibō-bun), meaning 'fat content'. For example, 低脂肪分 (tei-shibō-bun) means 'low fat content'.

この肉は脂肪が多くて、とても柔らかいです。 (This meat has a lot of fat and is very tender.)

You will encounter 脂肪 in four main areas of Japanese life: the doctor's office, the gym, the supermarket, and on television. In Japan, health consciousness is high, and the word 脂肪 is often framed as something to be managed or reduced. If you visit a Japanese clinic for an annual check-up, the doctor will likely point to a chart of your 体脂肪率 (taishibō-ritsu) or body fat percentage. If it is high, they might warn you about 脂肪肝 (shibō-kan), which is a fatty liver.

TV and Media: Commercials for 'Health Tea' (like Healthya or Kuro-Oolong Tea) are ubiquitous. They often use high-tech CG animations showing 脂肪 being blocked or broken down in the digestive system. The phrase 脂肪の吸収を抑える (shibō no kyūshū o osaeru)—'suppressing the absorption of fat'—is a classic marketing slogan.
Gyms and Fitness: Personal trainers will talk about 脂肪を筋肉に変える (shibō o kinniku ni kaeru), meaning 'changing fat into muscle' (though biologically inaccurate, it is a common motivational phrase). You will see posters for 'Fat Burn' classes labeled as 脂肪燃焼クラス.

テレビで「お腹の脂肪を落とす方法」という番組を見ました。 (I saw a TV program called 'Ways to Drop Stomach Fat'.)

In supermarkets, look at the dairy section. Milk is often categorized by its fat content. 無脂肪乳 (mushibō-nyū) is fat-free milk, while 低脂肪乳 (teishibō-nyū) is low-fat milk. In the meat section, while 'abura' is used to describe the visible white fat on a pork cutlet, the nutritional information on the back will always use 脂肪 or 脂質. In academic settings, biology students learn about 脂肪酸 (shibō-san)—fatty acids—and how they provide energy to the body. It is a word that spans from the most casual weight-loss gossip to the most rigorous scientific research.

The most dangerous mistake with 脂肪 (shibō) is its identical pronunciation to 死亡 (shibō), which means 'death'. While context usually prevents confusion, a slip-up in a very specific sentence could lead to a dark misunderstanding. For example, if you say shibō ga kowai, are you saying 'I'm afraid of body fat' or 'I'm afraid of death'? Usually, people use shinu no ga kowai for death, but in formal reports, shibō (death) is common. Always ensure your kanji is correct when texting or writing emails.

Confusing 脂肪 with 油 (Abura): Learners often use 脂肪 when they should use 'abura'. If you drop a piece of fried chicken on your shirt and get a grease stain, you call that an abura-yogore (oil stain), not a shibō-yogore. 脂肪 is the substance inside the body or the nutrient; 'abura' is the greasy stuff you cook with or see on the surface.
Using the Wrong Verbs: Do not say 脂肪を太る (shibō o futoru). The verb futoru means 'to become fat' (the state of the person). You should say 脂肪がつく (shibō ga tsuku)—'fat attaches'. Similarly, don't say 脂肪を痩せる (shibō o yaseru). Use 脂肪を落とす (shibō o otosu).

❌ 揚げ物の脂肪で手がベタベタする。
✅ 揚げ物の油で手がベタベタする。
(My hands are sticky with oil from the fried food.)

Another mistake is overusing 脂肪 in casual settings where onaka (stomach) or niku (meat/flesh) might be more natural. If you pinch your side and complain to a friend, saying kono niku ga... (this meat/flesh...) is very common and sounds less like a biology textbook than kono shibō ga.... Use 脂肪 when you want to sound specific about the substance itself, especially in health or fitness contexts.

While 脂肪 is the standard term for fat, several other words occupy similar semantic spaces. Understanding the nuances between them will make your Japanese sound much more natural and precise. The most important distinction is between 脂肪, 脂質, and 油/脂.

脂質 (ししつ - Shishitsu): This means 'lipids'. It is the technical term used on nutritional labels (alongside protein and carbohydrates). If 脂肪 is 'fat', 脂質 is the scientific category of 'fats and oils'. Use this in academic or formal nutritional discussions.
油 / 脂 (あぶら - Abura): Both are read as 'abura'. 油 (with the water radical) refers to liquid oils like vegetable oil. 脂 (with the meat radical) refers to solid animal fats like lard or the fat on a steak. While 脂肪 is the substance, 'abura' is the culinary or physical state of it.
肥満 (ひまん - Himan): This means 'obesity'. While 脂肪 is the substance, 肥満 is the medical condition of having too much of it. A doctor might say your 脂肪 level is leading to 肥満.

Comparison Table:

Word	Best Use Case
脂肪 (Shibō)	Body fat, nutrient fat, burning calories.
脂質 (Shishitsu)	Formal nutrition labels, scientific papers.
油 (Abura)	Cooking oil, oily skin, greasy hair.
贅肉 (Zeiniku)	'Excess flesh'—casual/self-deprecating for flab.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The kanji '肪' is almost exclusively used in the word '脂肪' in modern Japanese. You rarely see it on its own or in other common words.

Pronunciation Guide

UK ʃibɔː

US ʃibɔː

The stress is even, but there is a slight pitch drop on 'bo'.

Rhymes With

Kibō (Hope) Chibō (Intellect) Yobō (Prevention) Shibō (Death) Mibō (Widowhood) Kibō (Scale) Zibō (Self-hope/rare) Shibō (Aspiration/Ambiton)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'shibo' with a short 'o', which can sound like other words.
Confusing the pitch with 'shibō' (death), though they are often identical in many dialects.
Over-emphasizing the 'sh' like 'shee'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The kanji for 'bō' is rare outside this word, but the word itself is common.

Writing 4/5

The kanji are somewhat complex to write from memory.

Speaking 2/5

Easy to pronounce, but watch out for the homophone 'death'.

Listening 2/5

Very common in TV commercials and health talks.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

体 (Body) 肉 (Meat) 多い (Many) 少ない (Few) 油 (Oil)

Learn Next

脂質 (Lipids) 代謝 (Metabolism) 燃焼 (Burning) 肥満 (Obesity) 炭水化物 (Carbohydrates)

Advanced

飽和脂肪酸 (Saturated fatty acid) コレステロール (Cholesterol) メタボリックシンドローム (Metabolic syndrome)

Grammar to Know

Noun + がつく

脂肪がついた (Gained fat).

Noun + を落とす

脂肪を落とす (To lose fat).

Compound Nouns (Kanji + Kanji)

体脂肪 (Body fat).

Adjective + Noun

過剰な脂肪 (Excessive fat).

Verb (Stem) + やすい

脂肪が燃えやすい (Easy to burn fat).

Examples by Level

この牛乳は脂肪が少ないです。

This milk has little fat.

Noun + ga + adjective.

脂肪は体に必要です。

Fat is necessary for the body.

Topic marker 'wa' used for a general truth.

肉の脂肪を食べますか。

Do you eat the fat of the meat?

Possessive 'no' linking two nouns.

脂肪、ゼロ。

Zero fat.

Fragment common in advertising.

これは脂肪ですか。

Is this fat?

Simple question with 'desu ka'.

甘いものは脂肪になります。

Sweet things become fat.

Verb 'ni naru' meaning to become.

脂肪が多い食べ物。

Food with a lot of fat.

Relative clause modifying 'tabemono'.

魚の脂肪はいいです。

Fish fat is good.

Topic marker 'wa' with an adjective.

健康のために脂肪を減らします。

I will reduce fat for my health.

'Tame ni' indicating purpose.

お腹に脂肪がつきました。

I gained fat on my stomach.

Verb 'tsuku' used for gaining fat.

このお肉は脂肪がとても多いですね。

This meat has a lot of fat, doesn't it?

Sentence ending particle 'ne' for agreement.

脂肪が少ない食事を作ります。

I will make a low-fat meal.

Adjective phrase modifying 'shokuji'.

毎日運動して、脂肪を落としたいです。

I want to exercise every day and lose fat.

Desiderative form '-tai' with 'otosu'.

体脂肪を測りましょう。

Let's measure your body fat.

Volitional form 'mashō'.

脂肪を燃やすのは大変です。

Burning fat is hard.

Nominalizing 'no' to make the verb a subject.

バターにはたくさんの脂肪が含まれています。

Butter contains a lot of fat.

Passive form 'fukumarete iru' (is contained).

有酸素運動は脂肪燃焼に効果があります。

Aerobic exercise is effective for fat burning.

Compound noun 'shibō nenshō'.

最近、内臓脂肪が気になり始めました。

Recently, I've started worrying about visceral fat.

Compound 'naizō-shibō' and 'ni naru' for starting a state.

植物性の脂肪は動物性より健康的だと言われています。

Vegetable fat is said to be healthier than animal fat.

Comparison 'yori' and passive 'iwarete iru'.

このサプリメントは脂肪の吸収を抑えます。

This supplement suppresses the absorption of fat.

Object 'shibō no kyūshū' with verb 'osaeru'.

冬は寒さから身を守るために脂肪を蓄えます。

In winter, [animals] store fat to protect themselves from the cold.

Verb 'takuwaeru' meaning to store/accumulate.

体脂肪率が20パーセント以下になりました。

My body fat percentage has dropped below 20 percent.

Compound 'taishibō-ritsu' with 'ika' (below).

加工食品には隠れた脂肪が多いです。

Processed foods have a lot of hidden fat.

Adjective 'kakureta' (hidden) modifying 'shibō'.

脂肪をエネルギーに変える仕組みを学びました。

I learned the mechanism of converting fat into energy.

Verb pattern 'A o B ni kaeru' (change A into B).

過剰な脂肪摂取は生活習慣病の原因になります。

Excessive fat intake causes lifestyle-related diseases.

Compound 'shibō sesshu' (fat intake).

皮下脂肪と内臓脂肪の違いを知っていますか。

Do you know the difference between subcutaneous fat and visceral fat?

Contrastive 'to' linking two specific terms.

このお茶は脂肪を分解する働きを助けます。

This tea helps the function of breaking down fat.

Verb 'bunkai suru' (to break down/decompose).

筋肉量が増えると、脂肪が燃えやすくなります。

When muscle mass increases, fat burns more easily.

Suffix '-yasuiku naru' (becomes easy to...).

飽和脂肪酸の摂りすぎには注意が必要です。

Caution is needed regarding the overconsumption of saturated fatty acids.

Technical term 'hōwa shibō-san'.

ストレスが溜まると、脂肪が蓄積されやすくなります。

When stress builds up, fat is easily accumulated.

Passive potential '-sare-yasuku naru'.

彼は脂肪を落として筋肉をつけるために、厳しい食事制限をしています。

He is on a strict diet to lose fat and gain muscle.

Multiple clauses with purpose 'tame ni'.

脂肪組織は、単なるエネルギー貯蔵庫ではありません。

Adipose tissue is not merely an energy storage site.

Formal negative 'dewa arimasen'.

現代社会において、脂肪は健康の敵と見なされがちです。

In modern society, fat tends to be viewed as an enemy of health.

Suffix '-gachi' (tends to...).

特定の脂肪酸は、脳の機能維持に不可欠な役割を果たしています。

Certain fatty acids play an essential role in maintaining brain function.

Formal phrase 'yakuwari o hatasu' (to play a role).

脂肪吸引の手術を受ける人が増えているという統計があります。

There are statistics showing an increasing number of people undergoing liposuction surgery.

Compound 'shibō kyūin' (liposuction).

トランス脂肪酸の規制が、世界各国で進められています。

Regulations on trans fats are being advanced in countries around the world.

Passive continuous 'susumerarete iru'.

脂肪細胞から分泌されるアディポネクチンというホルモンが注目されています。

A hormone called adiponectin, secreted from fat cells, is attracting attention.

Relative clause with passive 'bunpi sareru'.

彼は徹底したトレーニングで、体脂肪を極限まで削ぎ落とした。

Through thorough training, he stripped away his body fat to the extreme.

Compound verb 'sogi-otosu' (to strip/scrape off).

不飽和脂肪酸を豊富に含む食材を意識的に摂取すべきです。

One should consciously ingest ingredients rich in unsaturated fatty acids.

Formal auxiliary 'beki' (should).

日本人の食事バランスにおいて、脂肪エネルギー比率の推移が懸念されています。

In the dietary balance of Japanese people, the trend in the fat-to-energy ratio is a concern.

Formal compound 'shibō enerugī hiritsu'.

脂肪の蓄積メカニズムを分子レベルで解明する研究が進んでいる。

Research is progressing to elucidate the mechanism of fat accumulation at the molecular level.

Highly formal 'kaimei suru' (to elucidate).

メタボリックシンドロームの診断基準には、内臓脂肪の面積が用いられる。

The area of visceral fat is used in the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome.

Passive 'mochiirareru' (is used).

脂肪の摂取制限が必ずしも健康に直結するわけではないという議論がある。

There is an argument that limiting fat intake does not necessarily lead directly to health.

Double negative 'wake dewa nai' (not necessarily).

褐色脂肪細胞の活性化が、肥満治療の新たな切り札として期待されている。

The activation of brown fat cells is expected to be a new trump card for obesity treatment.

Technical term 'kasshoku shibō saibō'.

食生活の欧米化に伴い、日本人の脂肪摂取量は戦後劇的に増加した。

With the Westernization of dietary habits, the fat intake of Japanese people has increased dramatically since the post-war era.

Formal 'ni tomonai' (along with/accompanying).

この論文は、脂肪代謝における特定の酵素の役割を詳述している。

This paper details the role of a specific enzyme in lipid metabolism.

Formal 'shōjutsu shite iru' (is detailing).

脂肪は、水に不溶で有機溶媒に可溶な疎水性物質の総称である。

Fat is a general term for hydrophobic substances that are insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents.

Academic definition structure 'A wa B no sōshō de aru'.

過度な脂肪排除は、脂溶性ビタミンの吸収を阻害する恐れがある。

Excessive exclusion of fat may inhibit the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Formal 'osore ga aru' (there is a fear/risk that).

Synonyms

脂質脂贅肉油固形脂中性脂肪ラード皮下脂肪

Antonyms

筋肉水分骨格無脂肪

Common Collocations

脂肪がつく

脂肪を燃焼する

脂肪分

体脂肪率

脂肪を落とす

内臓脂肪

脂肪酸

脂肪細胞

脂肪肝

脂肪吸引

Common Phrases

脂肪を溜め込む

— To store up fat in the body.

体は冬に脂肪を溜め込みやすい。

脂肪が気になる

— To be worried about one's body fat.

鏡を見て、脂肪が気になった。

脂肪を減らす

— To reduce fat (dietary or body).

脂肪を減らす食事制限。

脂肪を分解する

— To break down fat (metabolically).

この酵素は脂肪を分解する。

脂肪が多い

— High in fat.

脂肪が多い食事は避ける。

脂肪燃焼スープ

— Fat-burning soup (a popular diet dish).

脂肪燃焼スープダイエットを始める。

脂肪の吸収

— Absorption of fat.

脂肪の吸収を抑えるお茶。

脂肪を筋肉に変える

— To turn fat into muscle (figurative).

脂肪を筋肉に変えるトレーニング。

脂肪がのる

— To become fatty (usually of fish/meat, implying deliciousness).

この時期のブリは脂肪がのっている。

脂肪を削ぎ落とす

— To strip away fat (through intense effort).

ボクサーは極限まで脂肪を削ぎ落とす。

Often Confused With

脂肪 vs 死亡 (Shibō)

Pronounced the same, but means 'death'. Context is key.

脂肪 vs 油 (Abura)

Refers to cooking oil or liquid oils, while 脂肪 is biological fat.

脂肪 vs 脂 (Abura)

Refers to solid animal fat on food, while 脂肪 is the general/clinical term.

Idioms & Expressions

"脂肪の塊"

— A lump of fat; often used to describe someone very obese.

彼はまるで脂肪の塊のようだ。

Informal/Rude

"脂肪がつく"

— Literally 'fat attaches', but used as the standard way to say 'get fat'.

正月太りで脂肪がついた。

Neutral

"脂肪を燃やす"

— To burn fat; used metaphorically for intense caloric expenditure.

情熱と一緒に脂肪を燃やせ！

Casual/Motivational

"脂肪を落とす"

— To 'drop' fat; the standard idiom for losing weight.

夏までに脂肪を落としたい。

Neutral

"脂肪分控えめ"

— To hold back on fat content; used in dietary advice.

脂肪分控えめの生活を心がける。

Polite

"内臓脂肪型肥満"

— Visceral fat type obesity; also known as the 'apple-shaped' body.

内臓脂肪型肥満は病気のリスクが高い。

Medical

"皮下脂肪型肥満"

— Subcutaneous fat type obesity; 'pear-shaped' body.

女性は皮下脂肪型肥満になりやすい。

Medical

"脂肪吸引"

— Liposuction; used as a noun for the procedure.

脂肪吸引でスリムになる。

Neutral

"脂肪肝"

— Fatty liver; used as a warning in health checkups.

お酒の飲み過ぎで脂肪肝になった。

Medical

"脂肪の質"

— The quality of fat; referring to healthy vs. unhealthy fats.

脂肪の量だけでなく、脂肪の質も大切だ。

Health

Easily Confused

脂肪 vs 脂質

Both mean fat/lipids.

脂質 is more technical and used on nutritional labels; 脂肪 is used for body fat and general dietary fat.

ラベルの脂質を確認する。

脂肪 vs 贅肉

Both refer to body fat.

贅肉 is a negative, casual term for 'flab' or 'excess meat'; 脂肪 is clinical.

腰の贅肉が落ちない。

脂肪 vs 肥満

Related to being fat.

肥満 is the state of obesity; 脂肪 is the substance (fat) itself.

肥満解消のために運動する。

脂肪 vs 油

Both are 'fatty' substances.

油 is external (cooking, oil stains); 脂肪 is internal (body fat).

サラダ油を買う。

脂肪 vs 脂肪分

Very similar to 脂肪.

脂肪分 specifically refers to the 'content' or 'portion' of fat in a substance.

脂肪分の高いクリーム。

Sentence Patterns

[Body Part] に脂肪がつく

お腹に脂肪がついた。

脂肪を燃焼させる

ジョギングで脂肪を燃焼させる。

脂肪分が [Adjective]

この牛乳は脂肪分が少ない。

脂肪の吸収を抑える

特保のお茶は脂肪の吸収を抑える。

脂肪を筋肉に変える

筋トレで脂肪を筋肉に変える。

過剰な脂肪摂取

過剰な脂肪摂取は健康に悪い。

脂肪を極限まで削ぎ落とす

彼は脂肪を極限まで削ぎ落とした。

脂肪組織の活性化

褐色脂肪組織の活性化が注目されている。

Word Family

Nouns

体脂肪

内臓脂肪

皮下脂肪

脂肪酸

脂肪分

無脂肪

低脂肪

Verbs

脂肪する (Rare, usually 'shibō ga tsuku')

脂肪化する (to adipocyte/turn into fat)

Adjectives

脂肪の多い (fatty)

脂肪のない (fat-free)

脂質

油

肥満

代謝

燃焼

How to Use It

frequency

Common in health, fitness, and food labeling contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 脂肪 for cooking oil. → 油 (Abura)
脂肪 is biological/nutritional; 油 is for cooking and industrial use.
Saying 脂肪を太る. → 脂肪がつく
太る is a verb for the person becoming fat; fat itself 'attaches' (tsuku).
Confusing 脂肪 with 死亡 in writing. → 脂肪
死亡 means death. Using the wrong kanji can be very alarming.
Using 脂肪 to describe a greasy shirt. → 油汚れ (Abura-yogore)
Grease stains on clothes are always 'abura', never 'shibō'.
Saying 脂肪を痩せる. → 脂肪を落とす
痩せる is for the person losing weight; fat is 'dropped' (otosu) or 'burned' (moyasu).

Tips

Gym Lingo

When at a Japanese gym, look for the 'Fat Burn' button on treadmills; it will likely say 脂肪燃焼.

Milk Shopping

Look for 無脂肪 (mushibō) for fat-free and 低脂肪 (teishibō) for low-fat milk.

Verb Choice

Always use 'ga tsuku' for gaining fat. It sounds more natural than other verbs.

Marbled Beef

In Japan, high fat in beef (Shimofuri) is a sign of high quality, not something to be avoided.

Metabo

If someone mentions 'Metabo', they are talking about metabolic syndrome and likely their visceral fat.

Radical Hint

Both kanji in 脂肪 contain the 'meat' radical (⽉), which tells you it relates to the body.

Oil vs Fat

If it's in a bottle for cooking, it's 油. If it's on your waist, it's 脂肪.

Long Vowel

Ensure the 'o' in 'shibō' is long, or it might sound like a different word.

Lipids

In a science class, use 脂質 (shishitsu) for a more professional tone.

Health Tea

Many Japanese teas claim to 'cut' 脂肪. Look for the 'Tokuhō' logo on the bottle.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'SHE' (shi) wanting a 'BOW' (bo) to tie around her waist to hide her **fat** (shibō).

Visual Association

Imagine a marble-patterned steak where the white parts are labeled with the kanji 脂肪.

Word Web

Body Fat Nutrients Health Diet Lipids Burning Milk Anatomy

Challenge

Try to find three items in a Japanese convenience store that have the word 脂肪 on the label today.

Word Origin

The word is a Sino-Japanese compound (Kango). The first kanji '脂' (shi/abura) specifically refers to animal fat or lard. The second kanji '肪' (bō) refers to being fat or thick.

Original meaning: In classical Chinese medicine, it referred to the fatty tissues of animals.

Sino-Japanese (Kanji-based).

Cultural Context

Be careful when discussing body fat with others in Japan, as weight is a sensitive topic, despite the clinical nature of the word.

In English, 'fat' is often an insult. In Japanese, 脂肪 is a clinical term, but calling someone 'debu' (fatty) is very rude. However, talking about your own 脂肪 is common.

Metabo Law (2008) Tokuhō (Health Food) Certification Wagyu Beef Marbling Scales

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Gym

脂肪を燃焼させたいです。
体脂肪率は何パーセントですか？
脂肪を筋肉に変えましょう。
有酸素運動で脂肪を落とす。

At the Doctor

内臓脂肪が増えていますね。
中性脂肪の値が高いです。
脂肪肝の疑いがあります。
脂肪の摂取を控えてください。

At the Supermarket

無脂肪のヨーグルトはどこですか？
低脂肪乳を一本ください。
脂肪分ゼロの商品を探す。
この肉は脂肪が多い。

Cooking/Dieting

脂肪を分解するスープを作る。
脂肪の吸収を抑えるお茶を飲む。
脂肪分をカットした料理。
隠れた脂肪に注意する。

Academic/Biology

脂肪酸の構造を学ぶ。
脂肪組織の役割について。
脂肪はエネルギー源である。
脂質代謝のプロセス。

Conversation Starters

"最近、体脂肪を減らすために何かしていますか？ (Are you doing anything to reduce body fat lately?)"

"このお肉、脂肪がのっていて美味しそうですね。 (This meat looks delicious with all that fat on it.)"

"低脂肪乳と普通の牛乳、どちらが好きですか？ (Which do you like, low-fat milk or regular milk?)"

"脂肪を燃焼させるのに一番いい運動は何だと思いますか？ (What do you think is the best exercise for burning fat?)"

"健康診断で脂肪の値を注意されたことはありますか？ (Have you ever been warned about your fat levels in a health checkup?)"

Journal Prompts

今日の食事で、脂肪分について気にしたことを書いてください。 (Write about how you considered fat content in today's meals.)

理想的な体脂肪率になるために、どのような計画を立てますか？ (What kind of plan would you make to reach your ideal body fat percentage?)

日本の「メタボ」文化についてどう思いますか？ (What do you think about Japan's 'Metabo' culture?)

脂肪を減らすための運動を一つ選び、その効果を説明してください。 (Pick one exercise for reducing fat and explain its effects.)

「美味しいものは脂肪が多い」という言葉について、あなたの意見を書いてください。 (Write your opinion on the saying 'Delicious things are high in fat'.)

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

脂肪 (shibō) refers to biological fat inside the body or as a nutrient. 油 (abura) refers to cooking oil or greasy substances. You have body fat (shibō), but you cook with oil (abura).

You use the word 低脂肪 (teishibō). For example, 'teishibō-nyū' is low-fat milk.

Yes, it is used for any biological fat, including that of animals. For example, meat with a lot of fat is 'shibō ga ooi'.

No, it is a clinical and neutral word. However, calling someone a 'lump of fat' (shibō no katamari) is very rude.

The common term is 脂肪燃焼 (shibō nenshō). You can also say 脂肪を燃やす (shibō o moyasu).

It is 体脂肪率 (taishibō-ritsu).

No, for skin or hair, use 皮脂 (hishi - sebum) or simply 油 (abura).

Very common. You will see it every day in supermarkets, gyms, and on TV.

It is 内臓脂肪 (naizō-shibō). It is a major health topic in Japan.

It is written with the 'meat' radical on the left of both characters: 脂肪.