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役畜 (ekichiku) Japanese meaning: beasts of burden | Kotomora

役えき畜ちく

え

き

ち

く

Meanings

1

beasts of burden; draft animals

Refers to domesticated animals used for labor, such as pulling carts or plowing fields. A somewhat technical or agricultural term.

昔むかしは牛うしや馬うまが重じゅう要ような役えき畜ちくだった。
In the past, cattle and horses were important beasts of burden.

Kanji

役duty, war, campaign
畜livestock, domestic fowl and animals

Related words

家か畜ちく
家畜 is a broader term for livestock, including animals raised for food or products, while 役畜 specifically refers to working animals.

Etymology

Compound of 役 (えき, 'service, labor') and 畜 (ちく, 'livestock'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term is a straightforward Sino-Japanese coinage.