Translation guide
In Japanese, the term for deep-fried food depends on the coating and cooking style. The most common word is 揚げ物 (agemono), a general term for deep-fried dishes. Specific types include フライ (furai) for breaded and deep-fried items, 天ぷら (tempura) for lightly battered seafood and vegetables, and 唐揚げ (karaage) for marinated, floured, and deep-fried pieces, usually chicken.
Referring to deep-fried food in general, as a category of dishes.
The standard, all-encompassing term for deep-fried foods. Used in cooking, menus, and daily conversation.
揚げ物は美味しいけど、カロリーが高い。
Deep-fried food is delicious, but high in calories.
今夜の夕食は揚げ物にしよう。
Let's have deep-fried food for dinner tonight.
Referring to food coated in breadcrumbs or flour, then deep-fried, like tonkatsu or ebi-fry.
Used for Western-style deep-fried foods with a breadcrumb coating. Common examples: エビフライ (fried shrimp), カキフライ (fried oysters).
エビフライが大好きです。
I love fried shrimp.
この店のフライはサクサクしている。
The fried food at this restaurant is crispy.
Referring to tempura, a specific Japanese technique using a light batter.
A classic Japanese dish of seafood and vegetables dipped in a light batter and deep-fried. Often served with tentsuyu dipping sauce.
天ぷらを揚げるのは難しい。
It's difficult to fry tempura.
天ぷら定食をください。
I'll have the tempura set meal.
Referring to karaage, typically chicken, but also other meats or fish, marinated and coated with flour or starch before frying.
Bite-sized pieces of meat (usually chicken) marinated in soy sauce, ginger, and garlic, coated with flour or potato starch, and deep-fried. Very popular in bento and izakaya.
唐揚げ弁当を買った。
I bought a karaage bento.
この唐揚げはジューシーで美味しい。
This karaage is juicy and delicious.
Referring to deep-fried foods on skewers, often breaded and served with dipping sauce.
Skewered meat, seafood, or vegetables, breaded and deep-fried. Common in Osaka. Also called 串カツ (kushikatsu).
大阪で串揚げを食べた。
I ate kushiage in Osaka.
Referring to food deep-fried without any batter or coating, like fried tofu or fried fish.
Deep-frying without coating. Used for ingredients like eggplant, fish, or tofu to preserve their natural flavor.
ナスの素揚げはシンプルで美味しい。
Plain deep-fried eggplant is simple and delicious.
揚げ物 is the umbrella term for all deep-fried foods. フライ specifically refers to Western-style breaded and fried items (like tonkatsu or fried shrimp). 天ぷら is a Japanese technique with a light, airy batter. 唐揚げ is marinated, floured, and fried, usually chicken. Use the specific term when you know the type; otherwise, 揚げ物 is safe.
The literal translation '深く揚げた食べ物' is unnatural. Use 揚げ物 or the specific dish name.