チキンナゲット
chikin nagetto[t͡ɕi̥kʲin na̠ɡe̞t̚to̞]
The English phrase "chicken nuggets" is translated into Japanese as チキンナゲット (chikin nagetto).
This phrase refers to small pieces of breaded or battered chicken meat that are deep-fried.
Which one should you use?
In many fast-food contexts, the word "chicken" is often omitted and people simply refer to them as ナゲット.
How does it change in a sentence?
Japanese does not distinguish between singular and plural forms, so チキンナゲット can refer to both a single chicken nugget and multiple chicken nuggets.
How do you pronounce it?
chikin nagetto
Did you know?
- Some Japanese fast-food chains offer ナゲット in seasonal 'limited time' flavors, such as soy sauce or wasabi, which are rarely seen in Western markets.
- While チキンナゲット is the standard term, some Japanese people use the term 鶏の唐揚げ 'tori no karaage' to describe similar fried chicken, though the preparation and batter are fundamentally different.
- The word ナゲット is an example of a 'loanword' written in the katakana script, which is used specifically for foreign words and onomatopoeia to visually separate them from native Japanese text.
Examples in context
- チキンナゲットを３個ください。chikin nagetto o sanko kudasai.Three chicken nuggets, please.
- 子供はチキンナゲットが大好きです。kodomo wa chikin nagetto ga daisuki desu.Children love chicken nuggets.
- 今日のランチはチキンナゲットにしました。kyou no ranchi wa chikin nagetto ni shimashita.I decided on chicken nuggets for today's lunch.
Example conversation
Two friends are deciding what to order at a fast food restaurant.
- 陽葵 Himari大翔くん、何にする？hiroto-kun, nani ni suru?Hiroto, what are you going to have?
- 大翔 Hiroto僕はチキンナゲットがいいな。boku wa chikin nagetto ga ii na.I'd like chicken nuggets.
- 陽葵 Himariじゃあ、私もそれにしようかな。jaa, watashi mo sore ni shiyou kana.Then, maybe I'll have those too.
- 大翔 Hiroto一緒に食べよう！issho ni tabeyou!Let's eat together!
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry チキンナゲット, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
