牛

• Reading: うし
• Romaji: ushi
• Kanji breakdown: 牛 (gyū/ushi) — cow, cattle
• Pronunciation: /ɯ.ɕi/

Meaning

Cow; cattle; bull. A large domesticated animal raised for meat, milk, and labour.

A noun for cattle in general, covering cows, bulls, and oxen. An important animal in Japanese agriculture and cuisine. Appears in many compounds: 牛肉 (gyūniku, beef), 牛乳 (gyūnyū, cow's milk), 牛丼 (gyūdon, beef bowl). The on'yomi reading ぎゅう is used in most compounds, while うし is the standalone kun'yomi. Wagyu (和牛) beef is world-famous.

Examples

1. 北海道の牧場で牛を見た。 I saw cows at a ranch in Hokkaido.
2. 牛がゆっくり草を食べている。 The cow is slowly eating grass.
3. 子供のころ、牛が怖かった。 When I was a kid, I was scared of cows.

Usage Guide

Context: animals, food, agriculture

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 牛 is a pictograph depicting the face of a cow with horns. It is one of the twelve Chinese zodiac animals (丑年, Year of the Ox).

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal