The Japanese word for cow is ushi (traditional Japanese) and kau (English loanword). The word ushi (牛) is actually a gender neutral word which refers to cattle in general – both cows and bulls. A more specific word for cow is meushi (雌牛).
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| Romanji | Kanji | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Cow うし | Ushi | 牛 | |
| Cow (English loanword) カウ | Kau | None | |
| Heifer めうし | Meushi | 雌牛 | |
| Dairy cow にゅうぎゅう | Nyūgyū | 乳牛 |
Interesting facts about cows in Japan
In Japan, cows are a common and popular domestic livestock that is used for leather, meat and various dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter, and yogurt.
Cow meat is particularly important because it’s an important source of meat in Japan. As a matter of fact, there are a number of different grades of cow meat in Japan, which depends on factors such as the breed of cow, the conditions under which it was raised, and its diet. As a result, Japan produces the highest quality cow meat in the world and two examples include Wagyu and Kobe beef. Learn more about these cattle breeds here.