牛
ushi[ɯ̟ɕi]
In Japanese, 'cow' is translated as 牛 (ushi). If unsure, use 牛. 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 refers to the adult female of the species Bos taurus.
Which one should you use?
While 牛 (ushi) is the general term used for cattle, 雌牛 (meushi) is more specific and refers specifically to an adult female cow.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The word 牛 (ushi) is used for both the singular 'cow' and the plural 'cattle' without changing its form.
How do you pronounce it?
ushi
Did you know?
- The phrase 牛歩 (gyūho), meaning 'cow's pace', is used in Japanese politics to describe a slow and deliberate walking pace during a filibuster.
- In certain Japanese contexts, particularly in Buddhist terminology, the character 牛 is used to represent the concept of 'the ox mind' or pure consciousness.
- The character 牛 is a pictograph in its ancient form, representing the head and horns of a bovine animal.
Examples in context
- 牛の尻尾は長い。A cow has a long tail.This sentence is useful for describing a physical characteristic of 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 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 牛 and a buffalo.Tatoeba #229716 by small_snow, translation #67077 by CK
- Kono ushi wa wagyu-ushi desu ka? (この牛は和牛ですか？)Is this cow a Japanese beef cow?
- Ushishi! Kore ja ushi ni nani o itteru no ka wakannai na. (ウシシ！これじゃ牛に何を言ってるのかわからないな。)Ushishi! I can't understand what you're saying to the cow with this.
- 15 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ren and Himari are looking at a picture book in a library.
- 蓮 Renこの絵には牛が描いてあるね。Kono e ni wa ushi ga kaite aru ne.There is a cow drawn in this picture.
- 陽葵 Himari本当だ、可愛い牛だね。Hontou da, kawaii ushi da ne.You're right, it's a cute cow.
- 蓮 Ren陽葵は牛が好きかな？Himari wa ushi ga suki kana?I wonder if you like cows, Himari?
- 陽葵 Himariうん、大好きだよ！Un, daisuki da yo!Yes, I love them!
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.
