Meaning

Primary

Cow

Alternatives

Bull, Ox

Word Type

noun

Explanation

The kanji and the word are the same. This word is a bit broader than cow though, and can also be used to be bull and ox.

Reading

うし
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word is made up of a single kanji, it uses the kun'yomi reading. Here's a mnemonic to help you to remember it:

You're leading the cows around the field. To get them to move, you yell out "USH, USH, USH!" (うし) because you have a speech impediment and want to say "MUSH MUSH MUSH." Go ahead and say this out loud, yelling it if you can.

Context

Patterns of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 牛のミルク

    cow's milk

    牛のエサ

    cow's food

    牛のフン

    cow dung

Context Sentences

牛がたくさんいますね。

There are many cows.

牛のステーキとチキンステーキ、どっちがいい?

Which would you like, a beef steak or a chicken steak?

うちのペットは牛です。

My pet is a cow.

Kanji Composition