Translation guide
The English word 'lamb' can refer to the young animal, its meat, or be used figuratively. This guide covers how to express these meanings naturally in Japanese.
Referring to a baby sheep, the animal.
The standard word for a baby sheep. Used in both everyday and literary contexts.
牧場で子羊が生まれた。
A lamb was born on the farm.
子羊たちが草原で遊んでいる。
The lambs are playing in the meadow.
Loanword from English, often used in names or when emphasizing the English concept, but less common for the animal itself.
あのキャラクターはラムという名前の子羊です。
That character is a lamb named Ram.
Referring to the meat of a young sheep, used in cooking.
The standard term for lamb meat. 'ラム' alone can also be used in menus.
今夜はラム肉のカレーを作ります。
Tonight I'll make lamb curry.
このレストランのラムチョップは絶品だ。
The lamb chops at this restaurant are exquisite.
Literally 'meat of a young sheep'. Less common than ラム肉, but understandable.
子羊の肉は柔らかくて美味しい。
Lamb meat is tender and delicious.
Describing someone as gentle, innocent, or meek, like a lamb.
A simile meaning 'like a lamb', used to describe a person's gentle or innocent nature.
彼女は子羊のようにおとなしい。
She is as gentle as a lamb.
Means 'innocent' or 'naive', often used for children or pure-hearted people. Not directly 'lamb', but conveys the same idea.
彼は無邪気な性格で、誰からも愛されている。
He has an innocent personality and is loved by everyone.
Referring to someone who is sacrificed or taken advantage of, like a 'sacrificial lamb'.
Literally 'sacrificial lamb'. Used in religious or metaphorical contexts.
彼は会社の失敗の生贄の子羊にされた。
He was made the sacrificial lamb for the company's failure.
Loanword 'scapegoat', more common in modern Japanese for someone blamed unfairly.
彼はチームのミスのスケープゴートにされた。
He was made the scapegoat for the team's mistake.
In English, 'lamb' is meat from a young sheep, while 'mutton' is from an adult. In Japanese, ラム肉 (ramu-niku) is used for lamb, and マトン (maton) for mutton. However, マトン is less common and may not be understood by all. When in doubt, use ラム肉 for sheep meat in general.
The English word 'ram' (adult male sheep) is 雄羊 (おひつじ) in Japanese. Be careful not to use ラム for a ram, as ラム usually means lamb meat or the young animal.