油っこい食べ物
aburakkoi tabemono
The English phrase "greasy food" is translated into Japanese as 油っこい食べ物 (aburakkoi tabemono).
The phrase is used to describe food that contains a lot of oil or fat.
Which one should you use?
While 油っぽい is a more neutral way to say something is oily or has an oily surface, 油っこい often implies a heavy, unpleasant richness.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective 油っこい (aburakkoi) directly precedes the noun 食べ物 (tabemono) to modify it.
How do you pronounce it?
aburakkoi tabemono
Did you know?
- When people feel sick after eating 油っこい食べ物, they use the phrase 胃がもたれる, which literally suggests their stomach is 'stalling' like a car engine.
- Japanese has a dedicated term 口直し (kuchinaoshi) meaning 'mouth-fixing' for the act of eating something refreshing to clear the taste of greasy food.
- While 油っこい is often negative, the word 脂 (abura) is used as a mark of luxury when describing the marbling of high-end Wagyu beef.
Examples in context
- この唐揚げは本当に脂っこいと思います。I think this fried chicken is really greasy.
- 揚げ物が少し油っぽいですね。These deep-fried foods are a bit greasy, aren't they?
- このラーメンは具がベタついていて、脂っこい感じがする。This ramen has sticky ingredients, giving it a greasy feeling.
- この天ぷらは油でべちゃべちゃになっている。This tempura is all greasy and slippery due to the oil.
- 油っこい食べ物はあまり好きじゃないです。Aburakkoi tabemono wa amari suki janai desu.I don't really like greasy food.
- 最近、油っこい食べ物を食べすぎました。Saikin, aburakkoi tabemono o tabesugimashita.I ate too much greasy food lately.
- 夜食に油っこい食べ物を食べたいです。Yashoku ni aburakkoi tabemono o tabetai desu.I want to eat greasy food as a late-night snack.
Example conversation
Ren and Misaki are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- 蓮 Ren今日の夕飯は、何を食べたい？Kyou no yuuhan wa, nani o tabetai?What do you want to eat for dinner today?
- 美咲 Misaki私は、さっぱりしたものがいいな。Watashi wa, sappari shita mono ga ii na.I want something refreshing.
- 蓮 Renじゃあ、油っこい食べ物は避けようか。Jaa, aburakkoi tabemono wa sakeyou ka.Then, shall we avoid greasy food?
- 美咲 Misakiうん、それがいいと思う！Un, sore ga ii to omou!Yes, I think that's a good idea!
