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子牛 (こうし) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Common word JLPT N2 Freq. Frequency Top 100,000 Meanings 1
noun
calf ; young cow
The ordinary meaning is a young bovine. It can refer to a young cow or bull in everyday livestock contexts.
。
We fed milk to a calf at the ranch.
2
noun
small cow
A less common literal use for a cow that is small in size rather than necessarily young. When this distinction matters, 小さい牛 or 小型の牛 is usually clearer.
Written forms 子牛 Usage 78% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
仔牛 Usage 21% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
小牛 Usage 1% i Usage for this spelling across all readings, not one reading alone.
rarely-used kanji form
犢
rarely-used kanji form
こうじ
Kanji 子 child, sign of the rat, 11PM-1AM 仔 offspring (animal), detailed, fine Similar words 牛うし General word for a cow, bull, ox, or cattle; 子牛 specifically means a young bovine.
成せい 牛ぎゅう Means an adult cow or mature bovine, contrasting with 子牛 as a calf.
Etymology A transparent compound of 子, meaning child or young, and 牛, meaning cow or cattle. 仔牛 uses 仔 to emphasize a young animal; 小牛 uses 小 for small; 犢 is a rare single-character spelling for calf.
little, small
