The Kanji: 鶏 (Kei / Niwatori)
The kanji 鶏 means "chicken" (the domestic fowl). It combines 奚 (slave) with 鳥 (bird), reflecting its history of domestication. This character specifically refers to the farm animal and its related products.
Common Words & Example Sentences
1. 鶏肉 (toriniku) - Chicken meat
鶏肉を焼く。
"Grill chicken meat."
2. 養鶏 (yōkei) - Poultry farming
祖父は養鶏を営んでいる。
"My grandfather runs a poultry farm."
3. 鶏卵 (keiran) - Chicken egg
鶏卵は栄養が豊富だ。
"Chicken eggs are nutritious."
4. 鶏舎 (keisha) - Henhouse
鶏舎を掃除する。
"Clean the henhouse."
In summary, 鶏 is the essential kanji for all chicken-related terms - from the animal itself (ニワトリ) to its meat (鶏肉), eggs (鶏卵), and farming (養鶏). It's fundamental in agricultural and culinary contexts.