牛
ushi[ɯ̟ɕi]
The English phrase cow is translated into Japanese as 牛 (ushi). Wiktionary also lists 雌牛 (meushi).
Meaning: adult female of species Bos taurus (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 牛 | ushi | [ɯ̟ɕi] (narrow) [ɡʲɨː] (narrow) |
| 雌牛 | meushi | [me̞ɯ̟ɕi] (narrow) |
The term is used to refer to the animal Bos taurus. While it can refer specifically to a cow, it is frequently used as a general term for cattle. Other related terms include 子牛 (calf), 乳牛 (dairy cow), 牛肉 (beef) and 牛乳 (milk).
What does it mean word for word?
The specific term for a female cow, 雌牛, is a compound of 雌 (female) and 牛 (cow/ox).
Which one should you use?
牛 is the common, general term used for cattle regardless of sex. In contrast, 雌牛 refers specifically to a female cow.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
ushi
Did you know?
- The Kanji 牛 is a pictograph that originally represented the head and horns of an ox.
- In traditional Japanese art and culture, the 牛 is often associated with the zodiac and the concept of hardworking patience.
- The word 牛乳 for 'milk' literally translates to 'cow milk' because it specifically refers to bovine milk rather than milk from other animals.
Examples in context
- 牛の尻尾は長い。A cow has a long tail.This sentence is useful for describing an anatomical feature of the 牛.Tatoeba #9028616 by small_snow, translation #1739389 by Amastan
- 牛の搾乳ってどうやるの？How do you milk a cow?This sentence is useful for asking about the process of milking a 牛.Tatoeba #9119580 by small_snow, translation #2833279 by Hybrid
- あれは牛ですか水牛ですか。Is that a cow or a buffalo?This sentence is useful for distinguishing between a 牛 and a buffalo.Tatoeba #229716 by small_snow, translation #67077 by CK
- 子供たちは広い牧場で元気なうしに会いました。The children met a lively cow in the wide pasture.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kenta and Himari are visiting a farm.
- 健太 Kenta見て、あそこに牛がいるよ。Mite, asoko ni ushi ga iru yo.Look, there is a cow over there.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ！とても大きいね。Hontō da! Totemo ōkii ne.You're right! It's very big.
- 健太 Kentaあの牛は白い色をしているね。Ano ushi wa shiroi iro o shite iru ne.That cow is white.
- 陽葵 Himariかわいい牛だね。Kawaii ushi da ne.It's a cute cow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cow” translations and entries 牛, 雌牛, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 牛, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
