ぎゅうにゅう
gyūnyūeveryday
In hiragana, "milk" is ぎゅうにゅう (gyūnyū) for cow's milk. The loanword みるく (miruku) is used for milk in coffee or for baby milk.
Meaning: cow's milk (noun)
Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ぎゅうにゅう | gyūnyū | everyday |
| みるく | miruku | casual, coffee milk or baby milk |
The verb is のむ (nomu), "drink", as in ぎゅうにゅうを のむ (gyūnyū o nomu).
What does it mean word for word?
ぎゅうにゅう is 牛乳 in kanji and literally means "cow milk". The small ゅ keeps ぎゅう (gyū) as one beat.
Which one should you use?
Use ぎゅうにゅう (gyūnyū) at the store and at breakfast. Use みるく (miruku) for milk added to coffee and for baby milk.
Did you know?
- School lunch in Japan is called きゅうしょく (kyūshoku), and a small carton of milk is often served with it.
Examples in context
- まいあさ ぎゅうにゅうを のみます。Maiasa gyūnyū o nomimasu.I drink milk every morning.
- ぎゅうにゅうを かって きて。Gyūnyū o katte kite.Buy some milk and come back.
- コーヒーに みるくを いれる。Kōhī ni miruku o ireru.I put milk in my coffee.
Example conversation
Sayaka and her husband Jun check the fridge before shopping.
- Sayakaぎゅうにゅう、もう ないね。Gyūnyū, mō nai ne.We have no milk left.
- Junかいに いくよ。Kai ni iku yo.I will go buy some.
- Sayakaたまごも おねがい。Tamago mo onegai.Eggs too, please.
