脂肪

しぼう

fat, grease

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Understanding 脂肪 (zhī fáng)

The word 脂肪 specifically refers to fat found in living organisms or food, including animal fat and plant oils. It is commonly used in contexts related to health, nutrition, and cooking.

Usage in Health and Nutrition

When discussing body fat, 脂肪 often appears in phrases about fat content and its impact on health, such as 脂肪 (fat content). It is a neutral term but often appears in health advice or dietary contexts.

Common Collocations

  • 脂肪 (fat content): used to describe how much fat is present in food or the body.
  • 脂肪 (body fat): refers to fat stored in the human body.
  • 植物脂肪 (plant fat): fats derived from plants, such as oils.

Register and Tone

脂肪 is a formal and scientific term, suitable for medical, nutritional, and culinary contexts. It is not typically used in casual slang or metaphorical speech.

Avoiding Confusion

Do not confuse 脂肪 with (féi ròu), which specifically means fatty meat. 脂肪 is broader and includes all types of fat, not just in meat but also in plants and the human body.

Example Sentences

The amount of fat in the human body affects health.

This dish has a relatively high fat content and is not suitable for people

Plant oils also contain a certain amount of fat.