豚バラ肉
butabaraniku
In Japanese, the English phrase "pork belly" is translated as 豚バラ肉 (butabaraniku).
豚バラ肉 refers to the boneless cut of fatty meat known as pork belly. While 豚バラ肉 specifically identifies the meat, the shorthand 豚バラ is often used in grocery stores and restaurants.
Meaning: boneless cut of fatty meat (noun)
Which one should you use?
The full term 豚バラ肉 is used to specify the meat itself, whereas 豚バラ is often used as a shorter form in menu contexts or casual cooking.
How do you pronounce it?
butabaraniku
Did you know?
- If you are looking for 'pork belly' in a traditional Japanese market, you might find it referred to as 三枚肉 (sanmai-niku), which literally translates to 'three-layer meat'.
- The use of pork belly in Japan became widespread after the Meiji period when the government actively encouraged eating pork to improve the national health and strength of the population.
- In Japanese cuisine, if you see バラ used for beef instead of pork, it refers to 'rib meat' or 'chuck roll' rather than a belly cut. This can lead to confusion for those expecting the same cut across all meat types.
Examples in context
- 焼肉行って豚バラを食べたよ！超美味しかった！I went to a yakiniku restaurant and had some pork belly! It was delicious!
- はい、角煮をお願いします。Yes, I would like to have some kakuni, please.
- ぶたばら焼きをお求めですか？Are you looking for some butabara-yaki?
- 豚バラ肉を切ってください。tonbaraniku o kitte kudasai.Please cut the pork belly.
- 今日の夕食は豚バラ肉です。kyou no yuushoku wa tonbaraniku desu.Today's dinner is pork belly.
- 豚バラ肉はとても美味しいです。tonbaraniku wa totemo oishii desu.Pork belly is very delicious.
Example conversation
A couple is deciding what to buy at the supermarket.
- 蓮 Ren今日の料理には豚バラ肉を使いましょう。kyou no ryouri ni wa tonbaraniku o tsukaimashou.Let's use pork belly for today's cooking.
- 陽葵 Himariいいですね。美味しそうです。ii desu ne. oishisou desu.That sounds good. It looks delicious.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵さんは豚バラ肉が好きですか？himari-san wa tonbaraniku ga suki desu ka?Himari, do you like pork belly?
- 陽葵 Himariはい、大好きです！hai, daisuki desu!Yes, I love it!
Wendy, I love the format in which you present the Japanese language. There is so much rich history, customs, traditions. and foods just to mention a few. I know that I will not ever command the Japanese language. I seek to be able to defend myself at restaurants and stores. I’m going to Brazil this January for 40 days. I learned Portuguese reading the paper daily or on the net for translation. I don’t know why, but it came rather easily to me. Perhaps, because I speak Italian and Spanish as well.
I plan a trip to Japan the following Jan. (27). I would like to attempt communicate with anyone I come in contact with. In brevity, I’ll share that I’ve mastered 8 dishes from the Japanese cuisine. It’s one of my hobbies, have thousands more to go KKKKK.
Arigatou gozaimasu, for what you do.