Translation guide
The animal 'sheep' is 羊 (ひつじ) in Japanese. This guide covers the animal, its cultural significance, and related expressions.
Referring to the animal sheep, either as a species or individual animals.
The standard word for sheep. Can refer to both the animal in general and individual sheep. Japanese does not typically distinguish between singular and plural.
There are many sheep on the farm.
Sheep's wool is warm.
Literally 'cotton sheep', a more technical or formal term for sheep, emphasizing wool production. Rare in everyday speech.
Breed improvement of sheep is progressing.
Expressing the number of sheep, or the act of counting sheep to fall asleep.
The phrase 'counting sheep' to fall asleep. Use the counter 匹 (ひき) for small animals, but the phrase itself is idiomatic.
When I can't sleep, I count sheep.
The actual counting chant: 'One sheep, two sheep...' using the counter 匹 (ひき/ぴき).
Referring to the Year of the Sheep/Goat/Ram in the Chinese zodiac.
The zodiac year of the Sheep. Note that the same character 未 can also be interpreted as Goat or Ram depending on cultural context, but in Japan it is commonly associated with sheep.
Next year is the Year of the Sheep.
The zodiac sign itself, the eighth sign. Often used in fortune-telling or personality descriptions.
Referring to the meat of sheep, distinguishing between adult sheep (mutton) and young sheep (lamb).
General term for sheep meat, can refer to both mutton and lamb. Often used in the context of Genghis Khan (ジンギスカン), a popular grilled mutton dish.
I ate Genghis Khan in Hokkaido. The mutton was very delicious.
Loanword from English 'lamb', specifically referring to meat from young sheep. Common in restaurant menus.
Loanword from English 'mutton', specifically meat from adult sheep. Less common than ラム.
Using 'sheep' metaphorically to describe a person who blindly follows others, or a gentle, meek person.
Literally 'flock of sheep', used metaphorically for people who follow the crowd without thinking.
They moved in the same direction like a flock of sheep.
A person who is like a sheep, meaning meek, gentle, or easily led. Can be positive or negative depending on context.
羊 (ひつじ) is sheep, while 山羊 (やぎ) is goat. They are distinct animals in Japanese, though the zodiac sign 未 can sometimes be interpreted as goat in other cultures. In Japan, 未年 is usually associated with sheep.
To count sheep, use the counter 匹 (ひき). The pronunciation changes: いっぴき (1匹), にひき (2匹), さんびき (3匹), よんひき (4匹), etc. The phrase 'counting sheep' is 羊を数える.
One sheep, two sheep, three sheep...
I was born in the Year of the Sheep.
I ordered lamb chops.
Mutton has a stronger flavor than lamb.
She is a gentle person who gets along with everyone.