Translation guide
Milk that has not been pasteurized or heat-treated. In Japan, raw milk is heavily regulated and rarely sold directly to consumers; the term is mainly used in agricultural, legal, or food-safety contexts.
The literal concept of milk that has not undergone heat treatment, as used in food science, regulation, or farming.
Standard term for raw milk in technical, legal, and dairy industry contexts. Refers to milk as it comes from the cow, before any processing.
When referring to raw milk as something you might buy, use in recipes, or encounter on a farm.
In Japan, the sale of raw milk for direct consumption is prohibited by law (except in very limited circumstances). Most milk sold in stores is pasteurized. If you ask for 'raw milk' at a supermarket, you will likely be met with confusion. Use 生乳 only in appropriate technical or agricultural contexts.
The prefix 生 (なま) means 'raw' or 'fresh' and can be attached to many foods (e.g., 生卵 raw egg, 生魚 raw fish). However, for milk, 生乳 is a fixed compound read as せいにゅう, not なまにゅう. The phrase 生の牛乳 is acceptable in casual speech.
生乳の出荷基準は厳しく定められている。
The shipping standards for raw milk are strictly defined.
Literally 'unsterilized milk'. Used in food safety contexts to emphasize the lack of pasteurization. More technical than 生乳.
Drinking unpasteurized milk is not recommended.
Everyday phrase meaning 'raw cow's milk'. Used in casual conversation when contrasting with processed milk.
Please heat raw milk before drinking it.
Also the standard term for raw milk as a commercial or agricultural product. Often appears in contexts like 生乳100% (100% raw milk).
This cheese is made from 100% raw milk.
Means 'freshly squeezed milk', emphasizing that it is unprocessed and just obtained from the cow. Conveys a farm-fresh image.
I drank freshly squeezed milk at the farm.