酪農

• Reading: らくのう
• Romaji: rakunou
• Kanji breakdown: 酪 (raku) — dairy, fermented milk; 農 (nou) — farming, agriculture
• Pronunciation: /ɾa.kɯ.noː/

Meaning

Dairy farming. The agricultural practice of raising cattle for milk and dairy products.

A noun referring specifically to dairy farming — raising cows for milk, cheese, butter, and other dairy products. Distinct from 農業 (agriculture, general) and 畜産 (livestock farming, broader). Hokkaido (北海道) is Japan's primary dairy farming region, producing the majority of domestic milk and dairy. Common compounds: 酪農家 (dairy farmer), 酪農業 (dairy industry).

Examples

1. 北海道は酪農が盛んな地域として知られている。 Hokkaido is known as a region where dairy farming thrives.
2. 祖父は長年酪農を営んでいた。 My grandfather ran a dairy farm for many years.
3. 酪農家の減少が問題になっている。 The decline in dairy farmers is becoming a problem.

Usage Guide

Context: agriculture, geography, industry, Hokkaido

Tone: informative

Origin & History

From Sino-Japanese 酪 (raku, dairy/fermented milk) + 農 (nou, farming/agriculture). 酪 originally referred to fermented milk products in Chinese, making this compound 'dairy farming.'

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal